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LAST UPDATE | 30 Jun 2021
“THIS IS A mess.”
Those were the words from one minister after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.
“Blind-sided” is how another minister described the advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) which recommended that only vaccinated people should be allowed to dine indoors or enjoy any indoor activity for that matter.
“A bolt out of the blue” were the words used by another who said there was no indication that such advice was coming their way.
The advice sent shock waves through the hospitality sector and the Dáil.
Opposition and businesses have said the proposals are unacceptable, discriminatory, “bananas” and possibly not legal.
Government sources have said the “anger is palpable” and is being felt at a force they were not expecting.
TDs said their phones are hopping with constituents venting their frustrations, and questioning how government could even countenance such a proposal of creating somewhat of a two-tiered society.
Independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly, who is often described as one of the most level-headed politicians in the Dáil, said the Government’s plans will have serious implications and will create a “division among our people”.
“Proceeding down this divisive road is unacceptable,” she said.
Both within government, and even within the Taoiseach’s own party, the criticisms were piling up.
With the Taoiseach coming out early on last week indicating that government would accept whatever NPHET’s advice might be, Micheál Martin “rolled out the red carpet” for the Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohon, said one source.
The door was left open for him to put forward whatever proposals he wanted, they said.
One Fianna Fáil backbencher said it shows no one in government understands business and how it works, stating that Martin has failed to show any “backbone” or leadership.
This politician said big questions would be asked of the Taoiseach at his parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday night The party will be savaged for this, they said.
They added that it again raises the questions – who is in charge, who sets government policy? NPHET or those sitting around the Cabinet table?
When asked about the relationship between NPHET and the government, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said all was fine.
Why didn’t the public health experts give the government a heads up that they were thinking of going down this road is a question that will have to posed to NPHET, said the Tánaiste.
“Up until now, it was both policy of government and the advice of NPHET not to go down this road of vaccine passes for access to domestic services and we were reliant on that,” he said.
“Delta has changed the situation and therefore the advice has changed and therefore government decided to change our policy on foot of that,” he added.
He said a few days ago, the expectation was that there might be a short delay to the reopening of indoor hospitality, so as to get more people vaccinated, but Varadkar said NPHET was very clear that that would not be possible now.
Serious concerns were raised around the Cabinet table over the proposed measures, and how the government appeared to have found itself backed into a corner.
“They only want fully vaccinated people to be allowed indoors, for all activities,” said one source, who said they seem to be against having any unvaccinated people inside, for months, possibly indefinitely.
One senior source said it is either accept the advice or face the possibility of not reopening indoor dining until the autumn. There does not seem to be much of an appetite to say no to NPHET.
When The Journal asked the Taoiseach if the government, having been badly burned from the approach they took at Christmas, is preventing the government from making independent decisions to NPHET, Martin replied by saying the modelling presented by the public health experts was “stark”.
He said it was his view that the public want to maintain the progress and agree that it would be unwise to take steps that would jepordise that.
However, those in Fianna Fáil have said the Taoiseach appears to be “out of touch” with the public.
While some have said it is healthy to have some “tension” between NPHET and government, they state the real issue is “government’s fear of disagreeing with NPHET who are supposed to be an advisory body”.
“NPHET will always err on the side of caution and they focus solely on public health so we know what they’ll say. Government should take that advice and balance it with all the other things they have to consider like job losses and mental well-being. The government got stung at Christmas when they went against NPHET and numbers sky rocketed so they seem afraid not to follow NPHET advice to the letter,” said one Fianna Fáil soure.
They said the move is likely to go down very badly within the party and there is widespread opposition to the vaccine pass for hospitality.
The Taoiseach will be reminded of what he told his party two months ago, where he highlighted difficulties in the domestic use of so-called ‘green cert’ or vaccine bonus to access any services, such as pubs and restaurants.
Citing civil liberties issues, he told his parliamentary party meeting at the time that such a pass would only be used for overseas travel, and that Ireland would follow in the footsteps of the UK which does not require such a cert for outdoor dining or non essential retail.
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It’s illegal to not allow a 15 minute paid break after 4 1/2 hours work. Disappointing to see tesco dragging their feet about breaking the law
It’s simple folks, if you disagree with this – and you damn well should, don’t shop there. When these stores begin to see even a tiny drop in their profits they’ll suddenly find their conscience.
Or they will close it and all the jobs are gone.
@Ger As long as it’s profitable they won’t, but would you seriously want this threat held over our heads forever? We have to allow jobs like this, with low pay and illegal conditions, we have to take the crumbs from the table and suffer in silence, be grateful for it or else we’ll have no jobs at all. Seriously???
Meanwhile these stores won’t reveal their profits in Ireland, they won’t let us know just how much they’re making here but they have to do so in the UK by law. Why do you think that is?
If we enforced our legislation properly (which we more or less are above) there won’t be a need to boycott anything
No 2 FF/FG while it’s illegal not to allow a break, it’s my understanding that it doesn’t have to be a PAID break in all cases. It depends on the contract.
Ger
They won’t close.
They will pay up and they all should pay up. In the meantime we should boycott Tesco or at least spend less there.
Every little helps!
@Ger. People will not stop shopping – they’ll just go elsewhere, and the staff will follow them to where there is better working conditions.
Tesco have been making huge profits here for many many years – way above the rate in UK arm of company. They can afford to pay the staff.
Tesco should be fined as well as forced to give back pay.
Thats correct Jimmyjoe. But in this case they were treating one group of employees different. They were discriminated against in that all the other people who do the exact same job in the company get paid breaks, yet they were singled out.
Had it been in your job and two people sit side-by-side doing exactly the same work, and one gets paid for the 15min break and the other doesnt, that would be discriminatory too.
The Conrad hotel does not pay staff for breaks ,also pays normal rates for working Christmas Day ,it’s been getting away with this for years .
Report them
Conrad hotel is no different so to the rest of the Hospitality Sector. Most of them anyway.
No hotel or restaurant pays breaks, I haven’t had a paid break in 15 years, get over it!!
I even worked in one place, who took the hour pay out of your wages, and still no break was given!! Ha!!
On another note, are all employees entitled to Sunday premium pay in all employment sectors, does anyone know?
There are some exemptions. Chefs for instance. Chefs also never get a decent break and eat standing up in the kitchen when things quieten down for 2 mins. Its an industry wide thing in chefing.
No
I think companies can decide to pay you extra on Sundays, but they’re not obliged to.
They should pay up in total, if they don’t it’ll set a precedent and the likes of tescos will say no pay for breaks and when brought to court pay a percentage of the pay due and be financially better of than if they pay the full amount.
They should Tesco and sue the miserable b’stards!
Any improvements over at Dunne’s?? I’ve boycotted them for about 2 years now. Miss my vouchers. Wouldn’t mind a rummage round.
Full time contracts are still “on the table” no indication whether they’ll ever be picked up and actually given to staff
My boycott amounted to nothing so Ryan….
Tescos ‘Every little helps ‘ except if you work for them !!
Should everybody get paid breaks.my two breaks are unpaid on a 9 hour shift ? If so I’ll be due 10 years compensation
Yeah you’re supposed to get fifteen minutes paid break if you’ve worked 4.5 hours.
Just sent an email to siptu to try clarify it
Yes, you are entitled to a break of 15 minutes after a 4 ½ hour work period but there is no entitlement to be paid during these breaks and they are not considered part of your working time.
As it says in the article the paid breaks are part of Tesco’s own company guidelines, hence the legal action.
I doubt that the Bailieboro store is even making a profit…unlike the Tesco store in Cavan town where the workers appear to take their break outside on the pavement.
have your say