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Hi all and thanks for joining us for our continuing liveblog on the 2011 Presidential election count. If you want to see what happened from 9am to 6.45pm, check out Part ONE of the blog here.
Now, where were we?…
Hi all, the length of this blog (we’ve been with you since 9am) is getting too hot to handle for those coming to us through their iPhone and Android apps so we’re going to bring this one to a conclusion and start a brand new PART DEUX! Come join us in our second part here.
This just in:
“Dana Rosemary Scallon wishes to congratulate Mr Michael D Higgins on his election as Uachtaran na hÉireann. ‘His wife Sabina and his family are a great support to him and I hope that their time is Aras an Uachtaráin will be happy and successful. I’m sure the supporters in Galway are particularly proud of him at this time’. Dana Rosemary Scallon.”
Now – here’s another result in from Meath West, and no surprise to see that it’s followed the provincial lead and gone for Higgins too, though only just.
- Michael D Higgins 34.4%
- Sean Gallagher 33.5%
- Martin McGuinness 14.9%
- Gay Mitchell 6.1%
- David Norris 5.9%
- Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.7%
- Mary Davis 2.5%
Here, too, is Wexford’s entry to the ledgers:
- Michael D Higgins 36.2%
- Sean Gallagher 33.9%
- Martin McGuinness 14%
- Gay Mitchell 6%
- David Norris 4.8%
- Mary Davis 2.5%
- Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.5%
More on that issue with ballot paper in Wicklow – we now hear that it was 32 ballot papers, with the stamp of Dublin Central, which showed up on..
With Michael D Higgins on track for the Áras – and Paddy Power bookies paying out on bets with his name on it – will people be asking whether a tweet lost Seán Gallagher his lead on the poet-politician? One of the most retweeted notes today comes from @colmtobin who asks:
Dublin North West first count is coming out now – waiting for percentages but it’s Michael D way out in front with 9,709 first preferences, ahead of Seán Gallagher in second with 5,069 and Martin McGuinness on 1,111. David Norris is in fourth there with 2,638, Gay Mitchell on 1,111 (four-legged eleven?), Mary Davis on 915 and Dana Rosemary Scallon on 576.
Meanwhile, Dublin North Central is showing similar colours with:
Michael D Higgins 46.4%
Seán Gallagher 20.1%
Martin McGuinness 11.2%
David Norris 10.5%
Gay Mitchell 5.9%
Mary Davis 3.5%
Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.5%
The order was the same for Dublin North West, as we mentioned – in percentages of the first vote:
Michael D Higgins 38.8%
Seán Gallagher 20.3%
Martin McGuinness 19.9%
David Norris 10.6%
Gay Mitchell 4.4%
Mary Davis 3.7%
Dana Rosemary Scallon: 2.3%
And more results now… from Cork North Central this time:
Michael D Higgins 46.4%
Seán Gallagher 20.1%
Martin McGuinness 11.2%
David Norris 10.5%
Gay Mitchell 5.9%
Mary Davis 3.5%
Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.5%
And from Cork South Central, semi-good news for Dana where she doesn’t finish right at the bottom of the poll:
Michael D Higgins 45%
Seán Gallagher 24.9%
Martin McGuinness 14.1%
David Norris 6.5%
Gay Mitchell 4.7%
Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.8%
Mary Davis 2%
Meanwhile, over in Dublin Castle, TheJournal.ie’s Gavan Reilly is keeping an eye on the international and local media who are, er, keeping an eye on the arrival of any candidates. The complete results of the first count are due there some time after 8pm.
Note the carrier of empty coffee cups on the desk in the foreground. It’s gonna be a long evening…
Co Limerick’s first count is coming in and showing Higgins and McGuinness at the top. WAY at the top according to the local Live95fm news who tweet that Higgins got 14,134 first preferences and Gallagher 12,238 while the next in line is McGuinness at 3,854. Quite the gap there.
Clare has signalled its first count results:
Michael D Higgins 44.3%
Seán Gallagher 31.4%
Martin McGuinness 10.5%
Gay Mitchell 5.4%
David Norris 5.4%
Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.8%
Mary Davis 1.9%
Those Limerick county results we mentioned break down a little like this:
Michael D Higgins 38.7 per cent
Seán Gallagher 33.5 per cent
Martin McGuinness 10.6 per cent
Gay Mitchell 7.8 per cent
David Norris 3.7 per cent
Dana Rosemary Scallon 3.4 per cent
Mary Davis 2.2 per cent
Excellent tweet from Conor Spackman of the BBC gives a further insight into behind the scenes at a count:
And political blogger Suzy Byrne is pointing out the lack of wi fi in a national count centre for a Presidential election that comes round only every seven years is pretty ironic considering the presence of major tech entrepreneurs at the Dublin Web Summit today:
Luckily, we have equipped our folks at Dublin Castle with a dongle and a bag of nuts ‘n’ raisins. Sorted.
We’re getting close to the overall first count now. Kerry North-West/Limerick, Kerry South and Waterford are in:
Kerry North-West/Limerick:
Kerry South:
Waterford
It’s all go here tonight. The fourth count in the Dublin West by-election had eliminated Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party. BUT there will be a full recount after it was found that only 18 votes separate her from second-placed FF candidate David McGuinness.
At last. A bit of drama to count day.
Seems they solved the case of the misplaced ballots in Wicklow where a result is in:
Longford-Westmeath is in:
Some belated, if unhelpful, good news for Seán Gallagher. He has achieved most first-preferences in Roscommon-South Leitrim:
This means Seán Gallagher has topped four constituencies tonight and Martin McGuinness one – with Michael D Higgins topping the others so far.
Carlow-Kilkenny and Tipperary North have also sent in their first count results. Make that five Gallagher has topped:
Tipperary North:
Carlow-Kilkenny:
Michael D Higgins 36.7%
Seán Gallagher 33.8%
Martin McGuinness 12.4%
Gay Mitchell 7.7%
David Norris 4.8%
Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.7%
Mary Davis 1.9%
Galway West is in – as one would expect of a Higgins stomping ground, it’s a majority for him. If this was the actual overall first count vote, we could all go home:
Michael D Higgins 57.6%
Seán Gallagher 18.5%
Martin McGuinness 10.7%
Gay Mitchell 4.6%
Dana Rosemary Scallon 3.5%
David Norris 3.3%
Mary Davis 1.8%
Gavan Reilly, speaking to Seán Gallagher campaign people at Dublin Castle, says Gallagher is “very philosophical” about how the count is turning out for him. His wife Trish is apparently devastated for him.
Gerry Adams has been spotted high-fiving children who are accompanying members of his campaign team and supporters.
A little earlier, we (fuzzily) snapped him having an on-air chat to Newstalk’s George Hook. We take it no high fives were exchanged:
We are waiting for first count results from Cavan-Monaghan, Laois-Offaly and Louth.
Martin McGuinness was speaking at Dublin Castle. He said that a “strong third” for him in this Presidential race means for Sinn Féin:
Martin McGuinness also said that he doesn’t go into things “half-heartedly” and will go back to work as joint First Minister in the North and “also as the longest-serving minister on the All Ireland Ministerial Council”.
Pic of Martin McGuinness speaking at Dublin Castle from Stephen Kilkenny/LightCurvePhoto:
Another one in now. Cavan man Seán Gallagher unsurprisingly tops the Cavan-Monaghan poll – and Michael D only comes in third after Martin McGuinness:
Seán Gallagher 45.1%
Martin McGuinness 20.6%
Michael D Higgins 19.8%
Gay Mitchell 7.1%
David Norris 2.8%
Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.7%
Mary Davis 1.8%
The tension was palpable at the Dublin West count centre when Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party asked for – and got – a full recount after she looked to be eliminated after the fourth count on a difference of fewer than 20 votes. That’s count Sheriff John Fitzpatrick on the right. Image by Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland:
Meanwhile, over on RTÉ, Labour minister Joan Burton is denying Miriam O’Callaghan’s assertion that there might have been panic stations when Seán Gallagher came to the fore. The difference between Michael D and Seán was that Michael D’s was an open book whereas Seán Gallagher hadn’t been scrutinised at that point.
And Miriam just said she would be bringing an interview with the “President-elect” after the Nine O’Clock News. She means Michael D Higgins, right?
In the interest of balance, here is the impressive Colette Fitzpatrick of TV3 News at Dublin Castle, keeping tabs on Justice Minister Alan Shatter. Pic from Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland.
Michael D Higgins is very happy with the “decisive” vote and Seán Gallagher, arriving just ahead of him, said he was happy for him too. He has no regrets about running.
This, by the way, is a media scrum. You can’t see him but Michael D Higgins is in the middle of those cameras there. Image via Gavan Reilly standing on a chair:
FIRST COUNT at National Count Centre, Dublin Castle – first preference votes
Total poll 1,171,762
Quote 885,882
Michael D HIGGINS 701,101
Seán GALLAGHER 504,964
Martin McGUINNESS 243,030
Gay MITCHELL 113,321
David NORRIS 109,469
Dana Rosemary SCALLON 51,220
Mary DAVIS 48,657
Davis and Scallon’s votes will be transferred and they are ELIMINATED.
This is what Michael D Higgins had to say at Dublin Castle tonight (reporting by Gavan Reilly):
Can I say, I must first of all say that I’m very grateful to the media in all its forms for their kindness and their courtesy to my family and to myself over a very long campaign.
I pay tribute to the other candidates – they had a long campaign, they had many good ideas, which I’ll incorporate into the idea of the ninth presidency, which is a presidency of transformation…
How do you feel?
I feel a little overwhelmed but I’ll have to tell you in truth I’m very very happy. It’s something I’ve prepared for – I’ve talked about for a long while.
I am very glad, as well, that it’s a presidency and built on a campaign that emphasised ideas. I hope it will be a presidency that will enable everyone to be part of [it], and be proud of.
I’m out of an ethos of the left, but when the declaration is made I won’t be a member of any political party – I will be a president for all of the people – whether they voted for me or not, and whether they’re young or old, and particularly the Irish abroad who are in my habit to visit….
I think it will be exciting and I think it will be wonderful.
Michael D Higgins says that he won’t speak any further until the whole count is finished.
This was Seán Gallagher and wife Trish at Dublin Castle tonight:
Dana Rosemary Scallon has arrived at Dublin Castle. Did she miss the announcement of the first count – and her elimination?
Bizarrely, the Louth and Laois-Offaly first counts have only been officially declared.
Louth:
Michael D Higgins 36.3%
Seán Gallagher 29.6%
Martin McGuinness 20%
David Norris 5.5%
Gay Mitchell 4.1%
Mary Davis 2.3%
Dana Rosemary Scallon 2.2%
Laois-Offaly:
Seán Gallagher 37.6%
Michael D Higgins 31.8%
Martin McGuinness 13%
Gay Mitchell 6.6%
David Norris 6%
Dana Rosemary Scallon 3%
Mary Davis 2%
Dana Rosemary Scallon has swept in, all smiles. Image from our own Gavan Reilly. She’s moving so fast, she’s almost a blur.
Note: Eugene in the comments section has noticed that my super speedy typing fingers juxtaposed the second and third digits in the total number of votes – it should be 1.7m+ valid votes rather than the 1.1m I mentioned earlier. All other figures are correct.
That full Dana arrival. Thanks to Niall Carson/PA Wire for the spiffing shots:
Mary Davis apparently told RTÉ’s Fran McNulty that the campaign was a dirty one. Doesn’t she say something similar in the video highlights package RTÉ online news have been running today (it was on at the end of the Nine O’Clock News too).
Anyway, she said the end of the campaign was difficult for her. Can’t blame her then for the broad smile she’s giving here as she receives a hug during the announcement the first count tonight at Dublin Castle (Pic by Niall Carson/PA Wire):
Second count has begun again by the way with some figures already coming into Dublin Castle.
Brought to our attention that David Davin Power told Anne Doyle on the Nine O’Clock News that Gay Mitchell was a candidate who seemed to “repel” votes.
Gay Mitchell – vote repellant, it seems – was very nice about Michael D Higgins in any case when he told reporters tonight that he was delighted for him. He also gave Michael’s wife Sabina his blessing as an ambassador in the Áras.
We really are in here for the long haul tonight. National Count returning officer Ríona Ní Fhlanghaile has decided to press on to get the full count finished by tonight. Second count should be available before midnight.
Some victory shots from Stephen Kilkenny/LightCurvePhoto:
And fnally, President-elect kissing alert:
Some second count results have been confirmed – this is how the remaining five candidates are faring with transfers…
Limerick City:
Michael D Higgins +504 votes (brings him up to 50.8% of this constituency’s vote)
Seán Gallagher +355 votes (23.3%)
Martin McGuinness +138 (12.5%)
David Norris +137 (6.4%)
Gay Mitchell +253 (6.3%)
Tipperary South:
Michael D Higgins +523 votes (37%)
Seán Gallagher +438 (35.5%)
Martin McGuinness +156 (13.5%)
Gay Mitchell +230 (8.5%)
David Norris +118 (4.8%)
Galway East second count result is in too:
Michael D Higgins +906 votes (48.1%)
Seán Gallagher +665 votes (30.3%)
Martin McGuinness +259 votes (10.9%)
Gay Mitchell +337 votes (6.9%)
David Norris +139 votes (2.8%)
Meanwhile, Tom Watson has tweeted his congratulations to Michael D.
Who’s he again? He’s the British Labour Party MP who helped bring the News of the World phone hacking scandal to the spotlight as deputy chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. (The one the Murdochs and NoTW former editor Rebekah Brooks appeared before).
This is what he had to say:
More results coming in from the second count. We’re going to try a few ole blobs to make these look prettier. Because it’s that time of night.
Donegal North East:
Dublin South Central:
Bryan Dobson has tweeted to say that 15 out of 43 constitutiences have their second count results in. It looks like they are coming thick and fast now and we’ll at least have a second count in the early hours.
After that? Well, the returning officer will have to decide if it’s time to give sleepy counting staff a rest. We could go all night of course. Oh yes.
This for example, is how exciting it is looking down at the National Count Centre now where TheJournal.ie‘s Susan Ryan has been looking around just now:
Like we said. Scintillating stuff.
Back to the real hive of activity.
More second counts of transfers in:
Longford-Westmeath:
Cork South Central:
Limerick (county):
Dublin North West:
Dublin North:
Meath East:
Laois-Offaly:
Dublin South second count results:
Michael D Higgins +1,169 votes (52.%)
Seán Gallagher +723 (21.2%)
David Norris +295 (10.3%)
Gay Mitchell +596 (8.3%)
Martin McGuinness +196 (6.8%)
Dublin North East:
Clare:
Dun Laoghaire:
Donegal South West:
Cork East:
The head of NUI Galway is on RTÉ Radio 1 with the inimitable Seán O’Rourke. He says that the West is awake (his cliché, not mine) with people with NUI Galway links now top of the political chain – Enda Kenny, Eamon Gilmore, the Attorney General Máire Whelan and… Máire Geoghegan Quinn. And Michael D Higgins of course.
Whatever else, Donncha O’Connell, law lecturer at NUIG, confirms by Twitter that they are very proud of him in his alma mater:
Gavan Reilly is suggesting that the way the second preferences are coming, ordinarily you would eliminate Norris, Mitchell and McGuinness all at once because anything smaller couldn’t plug the gap between candidates. BUT in this case it will only be Norris who is eliminated in the second count, simply because his transfers could push Gay Mitchell to the magic 12.5 per cent which would give Mitchell his expenses back.
Interesting thought. We should find out for sure when the second count national result is announced in the next half hour, roughly*.
*very roughly
We’re up to 30 out of 43 constituencies with second count results in. Looks like the overall count is on its way and a possible adjournment for the night.
Doesn’t this podium shot from tonight in Dublin Castle already seem like so long ago? (Picture from Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland):
If you’re wondering what’s happening with that full recount in Dublin West for the by-election, Labour Party activist Cathal McCann is tweeting that FF’s McGuinness and Socialist Party’s Ruth Coppinger are “exactly even” after the recount. A further recount or entire suspension is expected. (Doesn’t look like it will make much difference to Labour’s Patrick Nulty’s chances of winning the seat anyway…)
It could be 1pm until the result of the second count of the Presidential election is in. It’s unlikely they will continue after that, but will break for the morning.
We realise that we brought you pics of Mary Davis, Martin McGuinness and Seán Gallagher at Dublin Castle tonight. Gay Mitchell was on the podium in that last one we posted. To make up the sextet, here’s David Norris (Pic: Niall Carson/PA)
The other constituencies coming in now include Dublin Central, Cavan-Monaghan, Kildare South, Carlow-Kilkenny, Wexford, Kerry North, Dublin South East, Galway West and Cork North West.
Dublin West update from RTÉ’s John Kilraine is confirming that earlier tweet we featured that there is a dead heat between Coppinger and McGuinness. Whether they will both just shake hands and give it up for Labour’s Patrick Nulty to take the seat is still being discussed.
While we wait for the final four outstanding constituencies to get in their second count results (and for the National Count to crunch them and give us an overall second count), have a look at some of the headlines being generated internationally by our Presidential campaign:
This one isn’t a news headline exactly – it’s a column on IrishCentral.com by the pseudonymous ‘The Yank’. Ouchy.
TheJournal.ie‘s incoming deputy editor (deputy editor-elect?) Christine Bohan is still holding on at the Dublin West count centre. Socialist Party’s Joe Higgins making a statement but, as Christine tweets, there is still confusion over whether there will be ANOTHER recount tomorrow. More as we have it. (Image: Christine Bohan)
Okay, it’s clear now what has happened with Dublin West. Well, at least with Joe Higgins and the Socialist Party. He says that they will accept “joint second” with Fianna Fáil as it is clear that neither David McGuinness (FF) nor Ruth Coppinger (SP) can overtake Labour’s Patrick Nulty.
Therefore, the Socialist Party don’t want another recount. Although we don’t know yet if Fianna Fáil will be happy to accept joint second.
Brian Greene captured Joe Higgins’s statement on audio here. (via @BrianGreene)
SECOND COUNT results in:
Michael D HIGGINS +29,379 730,480
Seán GALLAGHER +214,437 529,401
Martin McGUINNESS +9,581 250,611
Gay MITCHELL +14,036 127,357
David NORRIS +7,057 116, 526
The returning officer at the National Count Centre in Dublin Castle has adjourned the Presidential count until 9am tomorrow, as no candidate has reached the full quota needed (although let’s face it, we know it’s going to be Michael D at some point tomorrow – estimates are saying early afternoon).
David Norris has been eliminated after the second count so it will be his transfers that will be counted and redistributed.
Oh, but it’s not over yet folks – the counting continues in Dublin West because the returning officer has declared Ruth Coppinger (SP) eliminated. While the recount found her in a dead heat with Fianna Fáil’s David McGuinness at 9, 873 votes each, the Electoral Act of 1992 came into play where it found that the original count of the two’s votes should determine which was eliminated. As that was Coppinger the first time round, out she went.
This is the section:
122 (3): If, when a candidate has to be excluded under this section, two or more candidates have each the same number of votes and are lowest, regard shall be had to the number of original votes credited to each of those candidates, and the candidate with the lowest number of original votes shall be excluded and where the numbers of the original votes are equal, regard shall be had to the total numbers of votes credited to those candidates at the first count at which they had an unequal number of votes and the candidate with the lowest numberof votes at that count shall be excluded and, where the numbers of votes credited to those candidates were equal at all counts, the returning officer shall determine by lot which shall be excluded.
The upshot is that Patrick Nulty of Labour is still likely to take Brian Lenihan Jnr’s old seat after the fifth and final count. Which, like the results of Presidential election, is something we could take a good stab at since early yesterday. (Yes, it IS now Saturday!)
Little tweak to Gallagher’s figure there – inserted an extra digit into the number of transfers he got.
Those second count transfers again so far:
Michael D HIGGINS +29,379 730,480
Seán GALLAGHER +24,437 529,401
Martin McGUINNESS +9,581 250,611
Gay MITCHELL +14,036 127,357
David NORRIS +7,057 116, 526
Roscommon/South Leitrim, Waterford, Dublin Mid West will resume counting tomorrow morning at 9am but David Norris has been eliminated.
Meanwhile, we’ll see if we can’t bring you confirmation of the Dublin West result before we pack it in for the night.
Christine Bohan, bless her, is still pinching herself awake over at the Dublin West count centre in CityWest. This is the blurry-eyed scene over there right now as the fifth and final count prepares to declare victory for either Labour’s Patrick Nulty or Fianna Fáil’s David McGuinness:
We’ve been meaning to give a shout-out all night to Irish Political Maps who have been doing sterling work in putting together Ireland maps colour-graded to show who got first preferences where.
This shows the poll-toppers in each constituency:
See exactly how well each candidate did by clicking on their names… Mary Davis; Seán Gallagher; Michael D Higgins; Martin McGuinness; Gay Mitchell; David Norris; Dana Rosemary Scallon.
We’re told the podium has been set up and a final tally is due from Dublin West any minute now. Promise.
So Patrick Nulty has been elected in Dublin West. Will bring you the tally as it comes in.
The final tally in the Dublin West by-election is Patrick Nulty 17,636 votes and David McGuinness on 11,590 votes.
Although Nulty is 216 votes below the quota, no other candidate will be able to catch him on transfers and so he is elected. (See the full story here).
And with that double whammy for Labour today on the political scene, we bid you goodnight.
We’ll be back at 9am with our next liveblog covering the next stage of the Presidential election count. (The referenda count will begin straight after that final tally is brought through.)
Unfortunately the numbers are going to climb big time here when all these results come back and the situation is going to get a lot worse so people please stay in and mind yourselves
@John O Donoghue: The testing really seems to be a shambles, hard to get an accurate view of how bad it is – until it hits our ER rooms badly. This along with the complete lack of any adequate border strategy will likely hurt us.
@John O Donoghue: theres captain positive posting the same stuff again
@John O Donoghue: You’re like a broken record John, have you nothing better to do?
If 90 per cent of the tests are negitive yet people are showing symptoms, what is actually wrong with them?
@Mattress Dick: a sniffle and panic…
@Mattress Dick: could be a cold, normal flu, tonsillitis etc. lots of viruses have a cough and temp as their symptoms.
@Mattress Dick: have a cough, have the flu etc. There are a few other things going around anyway
@Mattress Dick: would love to get an Italian front line doctor to assess patients before putting them forward for testing, I’d say they would pick the victims out of a line up.
You can imagine we have tested all the “Jesus I’ve got it, it has to be it, Well Fk it I’ll have to be tested.”
@Mattress Dick: is the issue of faulty tests and ppe coming out of China being downplayed?
@Mattress Dick: In my case asthma, a fever and a panicky GP. I rang for advice over another condition entirely and got read the Covid questionnaire. Do you have a cough…yes but it’s my asthma, do you have aches and pains.. yes but it’s… and so on. At the end of the conversation I asked “so will you see me for (the other condition) when I test negative for coronavirus?”. Dr said “only if you’ve no symptoms” I said “but I will have symptoms due to asthma and some other chronic complaints” Doc said “well it’s too dangerous for me to see you”
And there it is. A cough and a fever for any reason can get you on the list whether you asked or not.
@Mattress Dick: the tests isn’t 100% accurate. Some people have had false negatives
I am waiting for my result still. Waiting 10 days now for a result. Had my chemo cancelled 3 times while waiting. Due again on Friday. No message, no help number that can help.
I had sniffles and chills when I arrived for my chemo. Still have them. They are a side-effect of the chemo. They asked how I felt. I told them and they refused me the treatment. So the test was not really necessary. And now I can’t get my bloody chemo. I’m supposed to get it every 2 weeks and it has now been 5 weeks since I got it.
@Padraig O Muirthile: similar to me Padraig. Had my chemo from brain cancer stopped altogether, as the PCV regime they had be on was causing so much damage to my bone marrow that my white cells were not recovering at all, Neutrophils test (white cell count) coming back at 0.7 every week. In a funny way it’s a blessing as it has Geiger me 4 weeks Chemo free to let my body recover so that when (not if) I get the virus I’ll be better places to fight it off I hope. Keep fighting. We’ll bounce back from this, it’s just another obstacle for us to climb over. Take care.
@5☆Fily: Geiger = Given
@5☆Fily: I just want it over. The longer the delay the longer I will be getting it. It is a joke that we weren’t prioritised.
@5☆Fily: wish your the best guys. Your worry levels must be off the charts.
@Tim Brennan: like 5 star Fily said. You just have to get on with it. What else can we do?
@Padraig O Muirthile: This is shocking yet z rate celebrities get tested willy nilly.
@Padraig O Muirthile: you can email the national virus lab explaining your circumstances and ask them to mark you as urgent on the system: nvrl@ucd.ie
@Padraig O Muirthile: can the hospital you are meant to receive your chemotherapy in try screen you? Rather than a community screen?
@Tim Brennan: thank you Tim.
So, 1,000 a day for March. I don’t understand the low testing and huge waiting lists.
The 300ish seems to be the max new number, is this because of only testing 1000 a day or because its leveled off.
@RJ: and also, you catch the virus on Feb 1st. show symptoms 10 days later, get an appointment 7 days later again and wait 6 days for result. End up positive but 23 days chancing it. All very worrying.
@RJ: what will the test achieve????
@Michael Bodycoach: ill answer with another question, what will give the green light to open the country? Yes, test.
@RJ: You should have been social distancing all along and in isolation as soon as you showed any symptoms (your day 10). Once you have symptoms or are referred for a test you have to assume you have it and isolate. Whether or not you get tested is irrelevant.
@RJ: i can explain the problems to you in three simple letters which is HSE.
This pandemic hasn’t suddenly made HSE better or the people running it better.
@miju irl: look, no hospital in the world could or can deal with this, but 1000 tests a day, I think we have up to 45 test centres. Makes no sense.
@RJ: you’re assesment is incorrect as you are staying that we did 1000 tests on the 1st March and 1000 every day.
Reality is different to your over simplification.
We’re obviously doing more tests per day now that at the start of the month.
The real number we need to worry about in the number that are hospitalised and in need of ICU.
Everyone else can deal with it by insolation.
@RJ: 23 days “chancing it”? what does that mean? everyone should be isolating to some extent and if you’ve symptoms you should be isolating even within your household.
As long as you can breathe you don’t need medical attention. And if you can’t breathe then you need medical attention regardless of whether you’ve tested positive for coronavirus.
@Tom Concannon: No, not all need testing, but for some the test is important. I work with vulnerable people in a residential setting – yes i took precautions, but I need to know for their sakes if they’ve potentially been exposed. Also to know if I’ve potentially got immunity now so am better placed to work with those with symptoms or positive results, so protecting other staff without immunity. I also have an elderly Mam with a chronic respiratory illness, living alone in the country side, who I’m currently unable to check on or get shopping etc. If I get negative result soon I can aid her. If positive then hopefully I’ll have immunity shortly and can stop for a much needed bit of company when dropping in supplies.
Tested 19/3 Croker.
31/3 no test result.
Why, when others report later tests & outcome reports?
Is it a hit and miss effort, or a show exhibition just to give impression of action. Hope not, given the potential misuse of brave, willing nurses.
Clarify.
@William Kelly: wow and I thought it was bad going on to my 8th day waiting
@miju irl: and here’s the big problem.. hoolahan already said he doesn’t know how long the virus lasts on swabs ?? So probably lots of false negatives out there too
@John kavanagh: 16 dys waiting for a test after being ré-referred. I’m still sick and haven’t been outside my door. I live at home with my Mam who is vulnerable and whatever this won’t shift and everytime I think I have it beat it drags me back down. My Mam is okay so far but I M very worried as the longer I remain symptomatic in the same space the higher a chance she could get it if it is it. Last text I got from them ws lst Thursday after my ré referral. Nothing since
@Jensen Bhroin: stay strong is all you can do .. hope you and your mam come out of this in the right side ..
@William Kelly: I was tested on 19/3 in the Midlands. Told result should take 3 working days. No result the following Tuesday. Continued to wait for text message (negative) or phone call (positive) I’m still waiting here on 1st April. I believe the results are on somebody’s desk but the text machine isn’t getting to everyone. Nobody is willing to complain as we know how the people on the frontline and lab workers are doing their absolute best for the country. It’s probably an IT issue and a bit disappointing but I’m satisfied I’m clear as it’s been over 14 days since symptoms started and I’m well over 5 days clear of symptoms now.
The more tests, the more we’ll know the true figures. Telling people to stay at home for 2 weeks, and maybe they’ll get over it but we will then never know the full scale of infection in Ireland
@Ian James Burgess: except that in the 10 or more days it takes to get a test, most will have recovered. Those who have the virus and need hospitalization will have been admitted long before then. Such a long wait for results makes them a bit meaningless surely?
@Ian James Burgess: Meanwhile drive in test centres in Germany abound / organization
@Damian Moylan: if you read the article you’d know it’s a shortage of reagents (to analyse the swabs) that’s the problem not a shortage of tests or test centres.
@Ian James Burgess: why do we need true figures right now? everyone should be isolating to prevent transmission.
In time we’ll need to start testing for antibodies to see who is immune and who needs vaccination but meanwhile the true scale is fairly meaningless.
@Lorraine Mac Rory: not everyone can isolate. Many still have to work.
@Mary McDonagh Faherty: but apparently not enough in test centers…
@Lorraine Mac Rory: Should be isolating, but more than likely probably not.
@Lorraine Mac Rory: lord you seem to be totally clueless! How do we plan for how many test centres we need, how much ppe we will need, how many ventilators we will need, how long the country will need to be on full lock down etc etc if we don’t know the scale of the problem and its growth rate? How much economic activity is being lost due to people isolating and their partners not being able to work as a result of them not getting a quick turn around on a test? Tests and results matter massively in management of the virus (tracking down contacts and stopping them spreading it) as well as managing the results of it and also managing the economic ramifications
I’m guessing that the reason we will jump to testing 30,000 in two days from our current total of 30,000 overall is due to lack of all the necessary equipment. If this is the case then please just be honest about it. It’s a worldwide issue and not unique to us. Anybody looking to play the blame game will do it no matter what.
How many tests were actually analysed in the lab out of the tests performed on people ? It’s a question journalists at press conference should ask .
Lots we are not being told regarding these numbers.
2 friends (one family) both ill.
1st one waited a week to be tested (2 weeks ago) still no result
2nd waited 2 weeks to be tested (1 week ago) still no results
So are we really doing all this testing??
@Tony Gordon: the article explains the delay (global reagent shortage to process the tests)
Am I correct in saying this is all down to financial problems ?
As in are the government not actually providing enough money for tester kits staff etc ?
If so it’s a disgrace
@Ronan Dunne: no you are wrong , every country are running out of test and some country’s have received tests that are faulty
@Ronan Dunne: it’s a lack of produced tests as there is a lack of them globally due to a pandemic. Also, people are still not getting the fact that not everyone needs to be tested yet. Test will do nothing for the individual. Only help get people that are high risk some help or assist in keeping health staff on the floor in hospitals without infecting patients. Other than that people just need to self isolate as per their advice. No one here is an expert and should only follow the advice given by the Hse Virologists and professionals. They are doing an awesome job
@Brian Carr: not sure about that
South Korea are testing thousands every day
@Ronan Dunne: they were one of the first countries with the virus, they got them first and possibly ordered a massive amount
@Ronan Dunne: I wish I remembered my source and I wish I remembered the exact figures, so I’ll be perfectly transparent when I say something I don’t know to be a fact, but from recollection of something I read recently (could even have been the journal) Ireland has one of, if not the highest tests per capita administered of any country in the world.
Imagine a product as obscure as a biochemical test for a specific strain of virus that we’ve only known to exist for a number of weeks, now image the demand equals the global population (virtually 100% of consumers want this product), imagine every government on the planet throwing its resources at it to get it, imagine there were zero suppliers globally a month ago and imagine little old Ireland leading the race.
Relax, we’re doing great.
@Sean Fahey: correct and excellent
@Michael Bodycoach: Someone talking sense at last. As long as people with symptoms follow the self isolating rules, and they’re not so ill as to need hospital care, then it doesn’t matter about being tested.
As crazy as this may sound. According to what I saw on one of the news channels earlier, the more people who catch it and only develop mild symptoms and follow the self isolating rules, the better it will be for everyone in the long run.
@james dimaggio: Germany is doing 500,000 tests a week, if they’re doing that then there’s a good reason.
@Sean Fahey: I’ll try to refresh your memory. You probably read it here, from one of the many ‘I wouldn’t normally vote for Fianna Gael, but they’re playing a blinder’ accounts, that have popped up since Leo sprung the SCU back into action
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/taoiseach-brings-back-communications-guru-for-covid-19-public-campaign-39054064.html
@Ronan Dunne: No. No expense is being spared in order to try control this virus..Has to be seen to be believed at ground level decisions are being made in hours on spending that took months in the past. This is being treated so seriously on the ground its incredible. The buy in from staff is fantastic. We have had companies making some fantastic good will gestures . Almost restores my faith in mankind
@JimmyMc: I feel sorry for people so radicalized as to be blinded by rage and hatred, the worst form of motivation, during the worst crisis in the history of the state, focusing on discrediting to bring down a government doing a superb job protecting and leading the country, citing examples of clever initiatives such as a public communication program to keep the public informed, calm and to protect the supply chain.
Mental health services are appalling in this country and nobody is pretending there aren’t many failing vital services that this government and many before it have failed to address, but for you and your families well being I sincerely hope whoever is in government succeeds because I’m a proud Irishman who cares about fellow citizens, champions democracy and loathes terrorism.
@Michael Bodycoach: the WHO said ‘Test Test Test’ That way you find the virus and deal with it. People don’t just rock up for a test. They are referred by a GP. So I assume they have symptoms. Making people wait 10 days for results is cruel.
30,000 tested… ? I’ve been staying at home since St Patrick’s Day… 14 days…. So 2142 per day ÷ 26 counties = 82.3 tests per county per day… 8 hour day = 10 tests per hour per county…. Seriously am I missing something
“Obviously unanticipated ” says Mr gascon,in other words they failed to plan for this virus even though they had 2 months to do so.
How many tests were already actually analysed in the lab out of the tests performed on people ? It’s a question journalists at press conference should ask .
Need to lockdown country. Means no one on the road.
@Pranab Vasudeva: where’s your data that backs up your claim we need a lockdown
@Pranab Vasudeva: how do we eat?
@Pranab Vasudeva: So do you mean, no exercise? No dog walking? No driving to the supermarkets? No driving to essential work places? Where would you draw the line?
@Pranab Vasudeva: ????
@Pranab Vasudeva: the reason for social distancing and staying in home for a few weeks isnt to stop the virus(we cant) its to slow it down and put less pressure on health services. The likelyhood is that a vast majority of the country will catch it and will do them no harm. But closing down the country completely and starving everyone nd denying people basic healthcare and medicine will jill alot more than the virus. We need people with level heads in these situations.
@Pranab Vasudeva: Ok ..who is going to work in the hospitals…I travel 80 Miles’ round trip to work in a hospital. Would you prefer me to stay at home..its all the one to me…I’ll get paid. You won’t die if I’m not there but things will run a little more smoothly in my department if I’m there which will ease your journey through the hospital…again I’m there because I’m needed not because I’m a thrill seeker looking to try out some more pain.
Will these new figures on death rates this evening scare more over 70s to go into cocooning till it’s safe to come back out again!
I think it would be good to know where cases are now. My friend in Italy and my friend in Germany both know his many cases are in their home towns. I think it would be good to know. I’m staying isolated apart from the supermarket once every 10 days or so, which I’m very nervous going to…maybe if I knew where cases were then I could change where I shop. Am I walking into it or walking away from it? Could I avoid it, if I knew there was a cluster in an area? Reminds me of a childhood programme…The Vortex. That’s how I feel. https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/490399846898645847/
I tried
@annn… Because if you tell were worse cases are the brain dead of this wonderful island of ours would think it’s ok to go out again because it doesn’t effect my area ..!
@Jolly Bourke: yeah that would have been my one concern
Ok, fair enough. Was this not supposed to be about contact tracing? That’s first, secondly how can I be sure that after testing positive and staying in isolation for 14 days, that after those 14 days I do not have this stuff? You want put this responsibility on me? I am for example still caughing? Still have no appetite and still my taste is poor, and today was the day I supposed to finish my quarantine.
Time for people to take action listen to mary Lou she is the one driving the action all along
30000??? Must a be a lie. They not testing anyone who doesnt have shortness of breath with another symptom. And thats corona. B****t
I am coughing, poor appetite and taste is poor as well. I chain smoke and I am waiting for a test since 1 Jan
Urge ? Enforcement with large fine
have your say