https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES3X-iddetg
This morning.
Brian Dillon writez:
“Hi there, I think ye might like this video remix I made of Leo Varadkar’s St Patrick’s Day address. Spreading the awareness and all that.”
Previously: “This Is The Calm Before The Storm”
WATCH: Government update on further measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 | Follow live updates: https://t.co/QffPYQeRRY https://t.co/tyjKdw4ZFG
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 24, 2020
This afternoon.
At Government Buildings.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar held a press briefing to give an update on the Government’s response to Covid-19.
In his briefing he said all the restrictions he announced while in Washington DC two weeks ago have been extended until Sunday, April 19.
He also said people should only leave their homes for essential reasons such as going to work or going to shops for food supplies. He said people should not make non-essential visits to other homes and no more than four people should gather in an outdoor social setting – unless the people are from the same household.
He said:
“Good afternoon, everyone.
“This morning the Cabinet met to decide on the next steps that the Government will take to respond to the coronavirus emergency. These are unprecedented actions to respond to an unprecedented emergency.
“We’ve agreed actions in three areas. First new measures to slow the spread of the virus as recommended by the CMO [chief medical officer] and the National Public Health Emergency Team, an expert team of public health doctors, virologists and scientists.
“Second, new measures to assist those who have lost or will lose their jobs as a consequence of the emergency and the scheme to ensure that many others do not and remain on the pay roll, rather than being laid off.
“And third, new emergency legislation that we’re asking the Dáil and Seanad to enact by the end of the week. Before I go through them in detail, I want to once again thank all of you for contributing to this great national effort.
“Thank you to our health service staff and our civil servants as well, our local authorities, are volunteers and NGOs, our Defence Forces, our gardai, our retailers, farmers and transport workers, carers and care workers, postal workers and those working in industry like pharma, food production and food service and medical devices.
“And thanks to everyone who’s helping out and helping others in a million different ways. Thank you all in religious life, our journalists and broadcasters, everyone doing their best to raise the spirits of our country.
“You’re rising to this challenge and the nation is grateful.”
Later
“I’m asking you stay at home if at all possible. This is the best way to slow the virus, ensure our hospitals are not overwhelmed and buy us time that we need to build more capacity testing, contact tracing, beds and ventilators.
“So you should only leave home to go to work, if you can’t work from home and your attendance is essential. You should only go to the shops for essential supplies, out for medical and dental appointments or to care for others or take physical exercise.
“Non-essential indoor visits to other people’s homes should be avoided and social gatherings of individuals outdoors should be of no more than four people unless you’re all from the same household.
“We’re in this for the long haul and this could go on for weeks, perhaps even months so we need to maintain our humanity as well. And it is OK to see our families and loved ones, because we have to look after our mental health as well as our physical health, but we have to maintain physical distance.
“Do it in small groups only and much less frequently than we would in the past. No unnecessary travel should take place within the country or overseas now or over the Easter break.
“In order to assist all of this the restrictions I announced in Washington DC are being extended until Sunday, the 19th of April and the following new actions are being taken, effective from midnight tonight.
“All theatres, clubs, gyms, leisure centres, hairdressers, betting offices, marts, markets, casinos, bingo halls, libraries and other similar outlets are to shut. All hotels, to limit occupancy to essential, non-social and non-tourist reasons. All non-essential retail outlets are to close to members of the public and all other retail outlets are to implement physical distancing.
“A list of essential retail outlets and stores is being provided.
“All cafés and restaurants should limit supply to takeaways and deliveries only. All sporting events are cancelled including those held behind closed doors. All playgrounds and holiday caravan parks will close.
“All places of worship are to restrict numbers entering at any one time to ensure adequate physical distancing. All organised social indoor and outdoor events of any size are not to take place.
“The gardai will increase interventions where venues are not in compliance with or where groups of people are not adhering to recommended social distancing. All household contacts of a suspect case, that is someone waiting on a test or a test result should restrict their movements until the test is reported as negative or 14 days after the onset of symptoms, whichever is the shorter.
“As I’ve mentioned earlier, individuals should work from home unless attendance at the workplace is absolutely essential. And social gatherings of individuals outdoors should be of no more than four people unless all are from the same household.
“All non-essential indoor visits to other person’s homes should be avoided. All crowded places, including public amenities, should be avoided as well. And all scheduled cruise ship travel to Ireland will cease.
“Any setting that should close has been specifically identified today and the requirement that workers work from home, unless attendance is absolutely essential, is not to be read as meaning the factories or constructions sites have to be shut.
“The authorities are available to work with employers and unions on how to make physical distancing effective where that’s possible.
“There’s going to be an increase of park rangers and gardai in parks and public places to ensure that physical distancing is being observed. In Ireland, since Independence, we’ve always had policing by consent, rather than by coercion and I don’t intend for that to change now. That’s not our way.
“The new powers afforded to the gardai will be used sparingly and only where necessary. Let’s all play our part to ensure they’re not used at all.
“I believe a liberal democracy can do this without the need for authoritarian and draconian actions.”
“The impact of Covid-19 on our economy and employment has been sudden and will be enormous. I believe we need to maintain social solidarity, unity and a sense of community in this time of trial.
“In recognition of the fact that so many fellow citizens have lost their jobs so suddenly, we’re raising the Covid Unemployment Payment to €350 a week, that’s approximately 75 per cent of average earnings in the sectors most affected and compares favourably with what’s being done in other jurisdictions. The first payments will be made on Friday.
“The Covid Illness Benefit, for people who are self-isolating, will also increase to €350 per week and that can be topped up by employers.
“In order to encourage employers and companies badly affected by the emergency, to keep staff on the payroll, a wage subsidy scheme will be introduced, to co-fund 70% of the cost of salaries up to a maximum of €38,000 a year.
“So for a salary of €38,000 the subsidy would equate to €410 a week in take-home pay. The cost of all of this will be great, many billions of euros in the coming months. But we can bear it and we will be able to pay it back as a nation. We do so willingly because it’s the right thing to do. And because we owe it to our fellow citizens.
“I strongly believe that maintaining a link between employees and employers and companies will make it easier for us to bounce back when this is all over. We’ll keep our economic infrastructure intact and will give business the best chance possible of making it through.
“The self-employed will also be covered and I know the sacrifices that many of our self-employed have made, to build up their businesses and practices and I know how worried they are at the moment, how vulnerable they feel and Government will do everything we can to help sustain you and bring you through this emergency as well.
“Ministers [Paschal] Donohoe, [Heather] Humphreys, and [Regina] Doherty will set out in more detail how these measures will apply.
“Finally, Cabinet this morning approved the emergency measures in the Public Interest Covid Bill. This legislation, for the duration of the emergency, will freeze rents, prevent evictions, make it easier for healthcare professionals, to re-register and return to work and enable former members of our Defence Forces to rejoin at the rank at which they left.
“We need you to serve your country again and to strengthen our nation at this difficult time.
“We also approved a framework agreement with the private hospitals. They will operate effectively as public hospitals under Section 38 of the Health Act for the duration of the emergency. Thus adding over 2,000 beds, nine laboratories, critical care capacity and thousands of staff to our health service. Public and private patients will be treated equally and private hospitals have agreed to do this on a not-for-profit basis and I really want to thank them for their co-operation in this regard.”
More to follow.
This morning.
Pleasants Street, Dublin 8
Minister for Health Simon Harris with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Chief Executive Officer of Alone Sean Moynihan (above right) at the Alone HQ where Mr Harris and Mr Vardkar paid tribute to the organisation’s staff and the service they provide for older people.
Earlier: Two By Two
Meanwhile…
Two metres?
Hmm.
Tonight.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addressed the nation live on RTÉ and Virgin Media One.
During his address, broadcast under Section 122 of the Broadcast Act 2009, Mr Varadkar said:
“Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh. This is a St Patrick’s Day like no other. A day that none of us will ever forget.
“Today’s children will tell their own children and grandchildren about the national holiday in 2020 that had no parties, no parades but instead saw everyone staying at home to protect each other.
“In years to come, let them say of us, when things were at their worst, we were at our best.
“Our country is making big demands of our healthcare staff and big demands of every single one of us. Tonight I want you to know why these actions are being taken and what more needs to be done.
“We’re in the middle of a global and national emergency. A pandemic. The likes of which none of us have seen before. So far, the number of cases in Ireland has been relatively small. However we believe the number will rise to 15,000 cases or more by the end of the month and rise further in the weeks thereafter.
“The vast majority of us who contract Covid-19 will experience only a mild illness. But many will be hospitalised and, sadly, some people die. We can’t stop the virus but working together we can slow it in its tracks and push it back.
“We can, as you’ve heard by now, flatten the curve. But only if everyone takes sustained action, nothing less will do. We all need to take steps to reduce close human contact. That’s how the virus is spread. Not just in public gatherings or in public places but also in our own homes, places of leisure and places of work.
“Large public gatherings are cancelled, all pubs and bars are shut and we’ve asked people to curtail or cancel social gatherings like parties, weddings and other celebrations.
“I know these choices won’t be easy but they are necessary. And more will be required in the coming weeks to reduce the spread of the virus. At all times, we’ll be guided and take the expert advice from our public heath emergency team, led by the chief medical officer.
“We’ll always put your life and your health ahead of any other concern. All resources that we have, financial and human, are being deployed to serve this great national effort. We’re watching what’s happening around the world and we will learn from the experience of other countries affected by Covid-19 before we were.
“What works, and what doesn’t. We know the best strategies focus on testing and contact tracing and social distancing so that’s our strategy. We will keep our essential services, supply chains and utilities operating.
“Many of you want to know when this will be over. The truth is: we just don’t know yet. This emergency is likely to go on well beyond March 29th. It could go on for months into the summer so we need to be sensible in the approaches we take.
“We will deploy our full resources to ensure that essential shops, workplaces and public transport can continue to operate. People will still need to buy goods and avail of personal services in the weeks and months ahead. However to do so, we need your co-operation and that of business and industry to make social distancing workable.
“This may mean changing how you do your business. But we will work with you to find safe and creative ways to do exactly this. It may mean adjusted opening hours, staggering breaks. Phone calls and video conferences, rather than meetings and, if possible, working from home.
“It will mean avoid unnecessary journeys, shopping online from local businesses and getting things delivered, rather than physically going to the premises.
“In short we’re asking people to come together as a nation, by staying apart from each other.
“The most basic messages of washing your hands properly and practicing good hygiene around sneezing and coughing are still the most important. And if you have a new cough that isn’t going away, or a high temperature or both, stay at home, phone your doctor and a test will be arranged for you within a few days.
“At a certain point we will advise the elderly and people who have a long-term illness to stay at home for several weeks. We’re putting in place the systems to ensure that if you are one of them, you will have food, supplies and are checked on. We call it cocooning and it will save many lives, particularly the lives of the most vulnerable, the most precious in our society.
“I know it’s going to be very difficult to stay apart from our loved ones. Most grandparents just want to give their grandkids a hug and a kiss around about now. But, as hard as it is, we need to keep our physical distance to stop the virus.
“Technology can help too. Check in with your loved-ones on Skype of FaceTime and promise them that you’ll see them again soon.
“We’ve already seen our fantastic community spirit spring into action. Phone your neighbours, see if they need help and make sure that those who are living alone are not left alone.
“To all the young people watching, I know you’re probably a bit bored and fed up right now. You want to see your friends, you might even be wishing you’re back at school tomorrow. But you’re going to have to wait a while longer for that.
“And I hope you remember that this time is tough on your parents as well. So I’m asking you to ask your parents, at least once a day, what you can do to help them. Keep up your schoolwork and call your grandparents.
“Like you, my family have spoken about little else in recent days. My partner, two sisters and both their husbands are working in the health service here in Ireland and in the UK. They’re all apprehensive, they’ve heard the stories from China and Italy of hospitals being overwhelmed and medical staff getting sick.
“I’m so proud of them all. Not all superheroes wear capes. Some wear scrubs and gowns.
“And all of our healthcare workers need us to do the right thing in the weeks ahead. Our community services and hospitals are being tooled up. Essential equipment is on the way. Retired staff are returning to service, people are training for changed roles.
“This is the calm before the storm. Before the surge. And when it comes, and it will come, never will so many ask so much of so few. We’ll do all that we can to support them.
“I’m also grateful to the many people who have joined this great national effort. Not just our healthcare staff but also our army cadets, our librarians, our civil servants who are now learning to do contact tracing. The early education and childcare workers offering to look after children for our frontline staff, so they can go to work.
“The teachers and lecturers finding new and innovative ways to teach students online and putting together contingency plans for the Leaving Cert and college exams.
“The people who are stocking our shelves everyday. And those who are serving customers. Our hauliers who leave their families on a Sunday evening and travel across the continent to ensure we have the products, medicines and equipment that we need.
“All those who keep our supply chain moving, working in transport, we thank them. It’s a frontline service too. Our journalists and broadcasters who are helping us to inform and educate the public are all deserving of our respect and thanks.
“Coronavirus is already having a deep impact on jobs and economic activity and will continue to do so. Some people watching will have seen their jobs lost, businesses closed or working hours reduced and more will be worried that it might happen to them too, especially as we don’t know when the emergency will end.
“I know this is causing huge stress and anxiety to you and your families on top of the fear of the virus. While we don’t have all the answers now. We are doing and will do all we can to help you through the time ahead.
“You’ll receive income support as quickly and efficiently as possible and when we’re through the worst, we’ll get people back to work and get businesses open again.
“Everyone in our society must show solidarity at this time of national sacrifice. For those who’ve lost their jobs and had incomes reduced, there will help and understanding from those who can give it, particularly the banks, government bodies and utilities.
“We went into this crisis with a strong economy and the public finances in good order. We have the capacity and credit rating to borrow billions if we need to. And I’m confident that our economy will bounce back. But the damage will be significant and lasting. The bill will be enormous and may take years to pay it.
“The Government’s already signed off a three billion euro package, for health, social welfare and business and will take further action when it’s needed.
“Tonight I know many of you are feeling scared and overwhelmed. That’s a normal reaction. But we will get through this and we will prevail.
“We need to halt the spread of the virus but we also need to halt the spread of fear. So please rely only on your information from trusted sources. From Government, the HSE, the World Health Organisation and from the national media.
“Please don’t forward or share messages that are from other unreliable sources. So much harm has already been caused by those messages and we must insulate our communities and the most vulnerable from the contagion of fear. Fear is a virus in itself.
“Please take regular breaks from watching the news and media and consuming social media. Constantly scrolling on your phone or obsessively following the latest developments isn’t good for anyone.
“Look after your mental health and well-being, as well as your physical health. Tonight, on our national holiday, I want to send a message around the world. We are in this together. To the people of China, Spain and Italy, who’ve suffered untold heartbreak and loss, we are with you.
“To everyone who’s lost a loved one to this virus, we are with you. To all those living in the shadow of what is to come, we are with you.
“Viruses pay no attention to borders, race, nationality or gender. They the shared enemy of all humanity. And so will be a shared enterprise of all humanity that finds a treatment and a vaccine that protects us.
“Tonight I send a message of friendship and of hope from Ireland to everyone around the world. Lá fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh, oíche mhaith.”
Watch back in full here
Covid-19 emergency to continue beyond March – Varadkar (RTÉ)
From left: Minister for Health Simon Harris, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan this morning
This morning.
Government Buildings, Dublin 2
Minister for Health Simon Harris said said we must reduce our social contacts to help slow the spread of the virus.
Simon Coveney said the radical measures will be a lot for the Irish public to take in
“We are asking Irish people to stay apart,” he said.
Earlier…
All schools, colleges and childcare facilities in Ireland to close from Friday until 29 March
Speaking in Washington, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announces new measure to tackle #CoronavirusPandemichttps://t.co/hgrQMjCeFI pic.twitter.com/kBDwO3SgAZ
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 12, 2020
This morning.
Washington DC, USA.
.
In his address, Mr Varadkar said there will be “many more” cases of the coronavirus, “more people will get sick” and “more people will die”.
He said the virus is “all over the world” but it “can be slowed” and the impact can be “reduced” which would make things easier for our health service to “cope” and, in time, for scientists to create a vaccine.
The Taoiseach said it should be noted that the effects of the virus will be “mild” for the majority of the people but that elderly people, and people will chronic illnesses, are at “real risk”.
He said people in Ireland have a “duty” to protect others including grandparents, friends, neighbours and co-workers.
Mr Varadkar said “we” have not witnessed a pandemic of this kind before and it is “unchartered territory for us”.
He added: “We said we’d take the right actions at the right time.”
He then went on to say that, from 6pm this evening, until March 29, all schools, colleges, childcare facilties will close.
There may be some teaching facilities online, where possible, while all cultural instutisions will also close.
He said all indoor gatherings of more than 100 people should be cancelled; and outdoor gathering of more than 500 people should also be cancelled.
He said anyone who enters Ireland, who show symptoms of the virus, should self-isolate.
Mr Varadkar went on to encourage people to continue to go to work if they can but said break times should be staggered and meetings should be held remotely, if possible.
He said public transport will continue and shops will stay open. He said everything will be done to ensure the supply chains will not be disrupted.
He called for people to take a sensible, level-headed approach “during this difficult” time before adding that restaurants and cafés can stay open but asked that owners look at ways to facilitate “social distancing”.
He also called on people to reduce their social interactions as much as possible.
The Taoiseach also repeated the guidelines about hand washing and sneezing into one’s elbow.
He said healthcare workers have been at forefront since start of this crisis and said they’ll be at frontline in the time ahead. “We must do all we can to help them,” he said.
Mr Varadkar said he knows these measures are a “shock” and that they involve “big changes”. He said people are being asked to make “enormous sacrifices”. But, he said, “we’re doing it for each other”.
He said “together, we can slow the virus and push it back” and save many lives.
“Our economy will suffer but it will bounce back,” he said.
He said: “We need to look out for each other…Ireland is a great nation, we’re a great people…We’ve endured hardship before… and many trials in the past..with our determination…we will prevail.”
More as we get it.
Coronavirus: Republic of Ireland to close schools and collegs (BBC)
Coronavirus: Schools, colleges, public facilities in Ireland set to shut (Irish Times)
Pic Brian ODonovan
Meanwhile…
This morning.
Government Buildings, Dublin 2.
Members of the media watching Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s address from Washington.
EU social distancing.
This afternoon.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar takes part in a video conference with the heads of other EU member states to discuss the coronavirus situation.
I can hear you, can you hear me?
Feck.
You’ve frozen again.
Earlier: Locking Everything Down
Via Leo Varadkar
Minister for Health Simon Harris, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys, and Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan at a press briefing in Government Buildings earlier today
This evening.
Ingrid Miley, of RTÉ, reports:
The Government is to introduce emergency legislation in the Dáil to amend the rules on sick pay, which will see Illness Benefit rise from €203 per week to €305.
It will be available from the first day of illness rather than after six days as at present, and conditionality will be waived to allow the self employed to receive it.
There will be no minimum number of PRSI contributions, but medical certification will be required.
Emergency legislation aims to amend rules on sick pay (RTÉ)
Earlier: “We Can’t Sugarcoat This”
This morning.
Trinity College Dublin
Acting Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar speaking at the Institute of International & European Affairs (IIEA) half-day conference on ‘Europe and the Future’.
Boo.
Hist.
Meanwhile…
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will hold talks later today in Dublin – the first time the two parties will sit down for discussions since the General Election was held on 8 February.
However, Fine Gael sources continue to stress that these talks are not about government formation, but rather exchanges of policy positions.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to hold first post-election talks (RTÉ)
Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar hits out at @sinnfeinireland rallies. Report soon from @IrishTimes pic.twitter.com/Wx6s3RUSs0
— harrymcgee (@harrymcgee) February 24, 2020
From top: Acting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: Sinn Fein negotiating team, from left: Matt Carthy TD, Pearse Doherty TD and David Cullinane TD at Leinster House this afternoon
Sinn Féin holding public meetings that anyone can attend: part of a campaign of intimidation
Eoghan Murphy meeting Richard Barrett of Bartra Capital behind closed doors to discuss co-living developments, which are often designed to bypass tenancy laws: Modern, trendy, v good
— Paulie Doyle (@BigPaulieDoyle) February 24, 2020
Leo Varadkar said the rallies are “designed to be the next phase in Sinn Féin’s campaign of intimidation and bullying”.
He added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if their next step is to take to the streets.”
Speaking at an event in Dublin, Mr Varadkar said: “It shows once again this is not a normal party.”
Sinn Féin is planning five rallies – the first in Cork tonight [see below] – with the others in Dublin, Galway, Cavan and Newry.
SF rallies an ‘unwelcome development’ – Varadkar (RTÉ)
UPDATE:
Last night.
Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Leo Varadkar leaves Aras an Uachtarain after handing in his resignation as Taoiseach to President Michael D Higgins (left).
Mr. Varadkar will continue as acting taoiseach until the Dáil elects a new government.
Varadkar, Martin agree to meet next week for exploratory talks (RTÉ)
Meanwhile…
Last night.
Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Leader of Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald TD leaving Leinster House having got the most votes over other leaders to become Taoiseach but falling short of the required amount.
Mary Lou McDonald Receives Most Dáil Votes For Taoiseach (Newstalk)
