Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says he wants COVID-19 restrictions lifted at the earliest possible opportunity on @PatKennyNT pic.twitter.com/gqgyVJvy2Q
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) January 18, 2022
This afternoon.
You’ve changed, man.
Earlier: Soft Landing
This morning.
Merrion Street, Dublin 2.
Fianna Fail Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath looking on as Fianna Fail Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly speaks to media outside Government Buildings before today’s meeting of the Cabinet.
Meanwhile…
I was just sent a DM showing the Minister for Health @DonnellyStephen blocking a 14 year old child.
Sianna, (@sianna_duggan) is very worried about her medical vulnerable mammy @dolores_duggan not getting a booster (see thread ⬇️)
How is this acceptable?!?@ParentsUtdIE https://t.co/6qdVvCdLgb pic.twitter.com/GXGFLOLIZW— Olive O’Connor 💛 🐝 #ProtectChildrenFromCovid (@oliveblogs) December 20, 2021
Anyone?
Yesterday.
Seanad Eireann, Dublin.
Independent Sharon Keogan addressed Minister for Health Stephen Donnely on the extension of covid powers under the Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021.
Senator Keogan said:
“You would have to laugh, if it were not so serious, at the phrase “extraordinary time-limited measures” contained in this Bill’s explanatory memorandum. As each Bill was passed, that “time-limited nature” was stressed so heavily and yet each sunset clause extension was used in its entirety – every single one, for the full amount.
“When we were debating those, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, stressed that this was the end of it, and once those dates came and went, new legislation would have to be drawn up. New legislation being drawn up would give the Houses a chance to go through the detail of each Bill and afford the Bills the scrutiny that they are supposed to receive in these Houses.
“Of course, that would be inconvenient to the Government so someone came up with this new brainwave. To be honest, I was shocked that this was allowed after all the posturing on how extraordinary these measures are, and as for the time limits, you can literally scribble out the end dates and pencil in any other date you want.
“It displays the most cynical and underhanded attitude towards this House that I have ever seen in my time here. It undermines the integrity of the law, of the processes and operation of the Oireachtas, and betrays what little of the public trust that is left.
Let us be honest here. We are not voting for the continuation of emergency powers until the end of March. We are extending them until the end of June. That means that, at the drop of a hat, when someone in Timbuktu discovers the Sigma variant, NPHET and the Cabinet can, if they feel like it, introduce a full level 5 lockdown without consulting anyone in the Dáil or Seanad…”
Senator Jerry Buttimer rising, interjected:
“Does the Senator really believe that? Incredible.”
Acting Chairperson (Senator Pauline O’Reilly) said:
“Senator Buttimer, please take your seat.”
Senator Keogan continued:
“Of course, once July arrives the legislation will lapse and we will be free from restrictions – wink wink, nudge nudge. I hope the Minister realises there is no coming back from this. After this, no one will take a sunset clause seriously again; no one in this room or outside it.
Once you throw this integral element of legislation under the bus, there is no pulling it back. Future Dáileanna and Seanaid and future generations, when presented with time-sensitive legislation by the government of their day, will be able to point to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and the Cabinet of Micheál Martin and say that sunset clauses are not worth the paper they are written on.”
Earlier: Take Their PUPS
Quite remarkable that the delay in the pre-travel test policy was commuicated by Aer Lingus and not the government itself – it formed a major element of the debate on MHQ last night and Stephen Donnelly (who is responsible for it) never breathed a word about any delay
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) December 3, 2021
This morning.
Via RTÉ News:
The Government has delayed the introduction of PCR and antigen testing for air and sea passengers arriving into Ireland by 48 hours.
The measure was due to come into force today, however an Aer Lingus spokesperson told RTÉ News that they were informed last night by the Government that the regulations will be delayed until Sunday.
The Government delayed the testing requirement in order to allow passengers and carriers to prepare for the measure.
A senior Government source said this would give more time, for example, for passengers to get a PCR test and result before travelling into Ireland.
Govt delays introduction of Covid tests for arrivals (RTÉ)
Meanwhile…
Yesterday.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announcing the new covid restrictions on travellers enetering the country. The vaccinated will need to be tested.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly
📻 “It is likely it is here”
Minister for Health @DonnellyStephen on the Omicron Variant in Ireland….#TodayCB
— Today with Claire Byrne (@TodaywithClaire) November 29, 2021
📻 “What we want to do is slow this down as much as we can for a relatively brief period of time while we get answers to the big questions. How transmissible, how severe and is it able to evade the vaccines to any serious extent”
@DonnellyStephen on Omicron #TodayCB
— Today with Claire Byrne (@TodaywithClaire) November 29, 2021
This morning.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said “it is likely” that the new Covid variant is in Ireland.
Via RTÉ News:
In the coming days it is likely that the country will be identifying Omicron cases, he told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne.
He said officials were focusing strongly and urgently on the new variant.
The scientific community is investigating if the new variant is more transmissible, more severe and what impact the vaccine might have on it.
It comes as the leaders of the three Coalition parties are due to meet the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) today to discuss the Omicron variant and the wider Covid situation.
‘Likely’ new Omicron variant is in Ireland – Donnelly (RTE)
Meanwhile…
South Africa's President gave a live television address last night in which he said the country will not be implement ANY NEW RESTRICTIONS in relation to #omnicron.https://t.co/dwxAgukSce
— Garreth McDaid (@garrethmcdaid) November 29, 2021
Meanwhile…
"No evidence" of more aggressive symptoms associated with Omicrom variant says South Africian scientist who discovered new Covid variant
— Daniel McConnell (@McConnellDaniel) November 29, 2021
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly says the advice he has is that antigen tests ‘shouldn’t be free’. He says there were no controls over how free tests were being used in the UK, adding ‘they’re very very expensive’. | Read more: https://t.co/i7mkkrsIMX pic.twitter.com/0QwQnh7S5S
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 17, 2021
This morning.
Meanwhile…
New: The HSE has been keeping at least 1.5 million antigen tests in storage.
They’ve only dispatched 35,000 so far (2%).https://t.co/ivmoEAGjEr
— Rachel Lavin (@RachelLavin) November 17, 2021
I asked the Taoiseach why the HSE has been keeping at least 1.5 million antigen tests in storage and has only dispatched 35,000 (2%) to date. The Government decision not to distribute them for free is inexplicable.
Figures c/o @RachelLavin @businessposthqhttps://t.co/5HjDGWRbOP pic.twitter.com/PKmUa3vdLt— Michael McNamara TD (@MlMcNamaraTD) November 17, 2021
This afternoon.
Anyone?
This morning.
Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly arrives for a cabinet meeting to discuss covid restrictions.
Via Irish Examiner:
Mr Donnelly said he expects the use of Covid-19 booster vaccines to be extended significantly as the evidence for boosters is “incredibly strong”.
In addition to extending boosters to those aged 50 to 59, shots are also to be approved for thousands of people under the age of 50 who have underlying conditions.
Mr Donnelly said that it is “all hands on deck” in rolling out the booster shots.
Meanwhile…
The meeting of the Cabinet’s Covid sub-committee heard significant criticism of the HSE from ministers over delays in the booster campaign, and Defence Minister Simon Coveney offered the use of the army to aid in the battle against the current surge.
Earlier: is This Necessary?
Stephen Donnelly has called for a decrease in discretionary social contacts to reduce Covid spread, when I asked what that means, he said: “Don’t go to nightclubs three times a week.”
— aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) November 10, 2021
This morning.
Three nights?
Only getting started, mate.
*chews intently*
Meanwhile…
1.3 million people are currently getting a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We're continuing to examine booster doses for other groups, such as those with underlying conditions and those under 60. Boosters are one part of our response. #ForUsAll pic.twitter.com/1VAfdlFiB7
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) November 10, 2021
Meanwhile…
It's actually over 20 "vaccines". In less than a year, for a type of virus we have never successfully vaccinated against before.
If you think that's "science delivering" and not just very, very strange…well, would you like to buy a bridge? https://t.co/7o8zGIv5Kn
— OffGuardian (@OffGuardian0) November 10, 2021
THREAD: We’re the envy of the world with our COVID-19 vaccine programme.
Thanks to the 93% of the eligible population that stepped forward.
The uptake has been very strong across all age groups – but we can still do more.
For those aged 12-15 – 71% have registered. pic.twitter.com/BZTdBNbAva
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) November 4, 2021
Yesterday.
Meanwhile…
This man says we’re the “envy of the world” with our Covid-19 vaccine programme”
If being the envy of the world results in us having one of the highest Covid-19 incidence rates in Europe Id rather not.
If there were a darker shade of red available then Ireland would be it. #COVID https://t.co/O4U5M2Dtsf pic.twitter.com/gFwMMhBnv2— Philip O’Reilly (@philthrill69) November 5, 2021
This morning.
Anyone/Fight!
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly
Sure why not?
This afternoon.
Dail Eireann.
Via RTE News:
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has told the Dáil that “we have to be concerned that things will deteriorate further” as he proposed extending emergency legislation providing for face masks, Covid passes, enforcement powers and fixed penalty notices.
The laws were due to expire on 9 November.
Mr Donnelly proposed extending them for another three months until 9 February.He said he could not commit with certainty what the trajectory of the disease would be.
Minister proposes extending Covid emergency legislation until 9 February (RTÉ)
