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ONE AFTER THE other, they came, pledging allegiance to Leo Varadkar.
Daring, public declarations all.
But come 2 June, there will be no show of hands or picking of teams, primary school PE-style, when it comes to electing Fine Gael’s new leader.
A secret ballot will protect the identity of any member who may have changed their mind over the previous fortnight.
“Out of 73 of my Oireachtas colleagues, if six of them decided to switch, all of sudden this competition is on a knife-edge, and that is not such a big ask seeing as there are quite a few days left in this contest,” Simon Coveney tells TheJournal.ie in a wide-ranging interview.
Earlier, he had mentioned the secret ballot to reporters in the same vein. He has devised a plan to beat Leo by 2%, it seems.
If it works – as it would have to be done with lion-size amounts of charm – he might even lose that boring tag (see also: ‘too quiet’; ‘lacking the X Factor’) that’s followed him around Leinster House.
The thought makes him laugh heartily.
“I always start laughing at that [when he is called boring]. Ask anyone that knows me well… boring isn’t a description people would use for me. So I do find that kind of funny.”
Sitting on a bench in sunny Merrion Square in Dublin’s city centre, Coveney talks about how he wants the public to get to know him better, how he will win back that support and whether he thinks Varadkar’s promises are realistic.
He also outlines what he plans to do should he lose the contest.
First, he deals with why people might have the perception that he is boring.
In a recent interview, his wife, Ruth Furney, hit back at such reports, telling The Irish Independent that they “live life at 110 miles per hour” and “once went to a concert, the races and a wedding in one day – in two different countries.”
So, why does he think people think this way?
“Maybe it is because sometimes I am too serious in politics and I am focused on delivering on policy initiatives rather than sort of, banter and put downs and quips and so on. I tend to go there when I am out of the office rather than in it,” said the Housing Minister.
“To be fair, I don’t think a lot of people know me yet. They have seen me trying to bring about change in different briefs, whether that is trying to extend the ambition of agriculture or sending ships to the Mediterranean or taking on a housing brief or try to solve big political problems like water, that is what they see.
“Maybe during this contest they will get to see the person as well as the politician, and I hope that will add to the appeal, but let’s wait and see.”
The Cork South Central TD wants the public and the party members to know a different side to Simon, which is why he has been travelling around the country to visit as many counties as possible before the big vote a week from Friday.
“I hope as people get to know me a bit better they will get to know someone who is very sincere, very straight and in politics for all the right reasons.”
In order to get to know Simon a bit better, TheJournal.ie asked those closest to him for some interesting aspects of his life people might not know about. Here’s what we heard back:
(He speaks about this about 2 minutes in)
Coveney’s opponent Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar – another experienced politician who has held three ministerial portfolios – is leading in the race so far.
The Dublin TD is the ‘show pony’ to Coveney’s ‘workhorse’, according to many in the party. He’s the man for one liners and slick PR.
While both candidates are under strict instructions from the highest Fine Gael echelons to keep it clean (for fear of damaging the party), there have been a few (inevitable) digs, here and there.
The pair go head to head tonight in the first of four hustings (debates) that will take place around the country.
Coveney dismisses any suggestion that the race is over.
“I am realistic. We got off to a bad start, but we have moved into a new phase now, which is about talking to thousands of members and hundreds of councillors.”
Hundreds of people have been turning out for this week’s rallies. Coveney is taken aback by the numbers, but believes grassroots members have been motivated by a perception that the parliamentary party had the contest decided before taking their views into account.
Damien English TD / TwitterGreat welcome for @simoncoveney in @HotelKilmore - Hundreds more @FineGael members and public reps to meet and greet. pic.twitter.com/9FFG7iTJtz
— Damien English TD (@Damien_English) May 23, 2017
“They watched with some surprise as the parliamentary party made declarations for one candidate or another without even listening to what the candidates had to say, without involving them in the discussion and the debate,” he elaborates.
Instead of a personality contest, Coveney says there are bigger issues at stake here.
I am standing in the contest to win it and I am doing that because I believe I am the best person to lead the way forward at this point in history. My politics is one of straight talk, very hard work and painting a picture of what Ireland can look like if politics decides to get us there.
What kind of Ireland do we want to build – that is what this competition needs to be about – not about slick PR launches – so I have gone back to basics – to talk to people in the party and they have been responding very positively.
A pointed remark, perhaps? Last week, ‘Leo’ cupcakes were handed out to reporters standing on Leo Street waiting for someone to declare for, well, Leo.
Kevin Doyle / TwitterLeo arrives with coffee and cakes for the media. We're not that easily bought but still... pic.twitter.com/PKjGtlFHuH
— Kevin Doyle (@KevDoyle_Indo) May 19, 2017
Should we expect Coveney doughnuts soon?
No, I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s what we are about. Look, I’ve been to lots of different launches and different initiatives and policies and so on, and I am not going to start criticising the other side, they got off to a good start, but the real contest is only really starting now.
In the newly hatched bid to win back some TDs and senators, Coveney has been actively encouraging Varadkar supporters to switch sides.
I think many of my Oireachtas colleagues who – for whatever reason decided to declare early – may well think again when they have been to the hustings… when they are hearing what people are saying, when they are hearing what their own Fine Gael members are saying in their own constituency.
However, earlier this week, Varadkar said he might try to sway a few Coveney supporters his way, including Minister of State for Health Promotion Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy.
Simon Coveney / TwitterIn Cavan tonight- keeping the conversation with FG members going #Coveneyforleader pic.twitter.com/1OXHBs5HM4
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) May 23, 2017
Coveney isn’t concerned by the prospect of any of his people turning.
“It is a pretty solid support base,” he says of the 20 people backing him.
They have come with me to nearly all of these meetings we have been holding… of course if any of the people that are backing me to date think the best thing for the party and the best thing for the country is for them to switch to Leo, I’ll accept that, absolutely.
But what I really want is for people to make an informed choice as to what people have to offer for the future of the party or the country, instead of any other motivation. I make no judgements, good bad or indifferent of my colleagues. They make their own choices, just like I have.
The unexpected surge in support for Varadkar (even before he officially launched) is ‘an irrelevant, personal story’, according to Coveney.
Are TDs just looking out for themselves though?
I don’t know is the straight answer – you’d have to ask them. I am not going to start making judgements as to why people made the decisions that they did. All I know is there were lots of people that were very supportive of me a week ago, some of whom I think still like me and respect me, but have made the decision to declare for Leo.
Whatever the reason behind that is their business and I am not going to start judging or questioning people on that. I am getting on with articulating a message, a vision, for the party that I believe in and that is what politics is about for me. It is about conviction and a belief in the type of country that I think politics needs to create. And if you don’t have that kind of believe in politics well then in my view you don’t have any business in it.
Coveney says he has huge admiration for colleagues who are committed to not only him but his message, and “who in a way commit their careers to me”, he said.
“If you look back in history, generally people who support the winner tend to do better in terms of appointments. I would like to think that isn’t driving the choices that many people make, but I am not naive enough to think that it is not a factor.”
Both candidates have launched their policy documents – Coveney’s has been described as more inclusive – a paper with ‘big, bold, ideas’ for Ireland, he says.
Varadkar’s is clearly going after the quintessential Fine Gaeler, stating that he isn’t trying to be “all things to all people”.
Coveney says he is offering very different things to Varadkar and says their documents are “very different”.
“Leo’s is essentially like an election manifesto. It deals with lots of things from increasing back to school allowance to small commitments,” he said, adding that he had no idea if it was realistic as it hasn’t been costed.
“I think there is a lot of good stuff in there by the way and some things I agree with… The reason I took a different approach in relation to not itemising every little bit of expenditure is I wanted to outline a few big ideas.”
Varadkar’s policy document takes a swipe at the First Time Buyers Scheme, a plan implemented by Coveney and his department. This week, his opponent called for a review of the plan. If it was found to be inflating property prices, he called for it to be scrapped.
“I am not worried about that. Essentially what Leo has said is that this needs to be reviewed and if it looks like it is not working we should change it. From what we are seeing to date it is working,” says Coveney.
The Social Protection Minister also pledges to refund all water charges this year. Irish Water is currently in Coveney’s brief, so is that possible?
“Well that is a government decision and it is a decision that involves the Department of Public Expenditure, as well as me.”
He said draft legislation on water will be brought to Cabinet next week, but said how the refunds could be returned has to be worked out.
“I need to work with Pascal Donohoe to ensure we can pay the refunds in a manner and a timeline that doesn’t result in us having to take money from other sources. I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see. We’ll have to wait and see to when we can afford to do it.”
He said there is a commitment to refund the charges but said: “We need sensible decision-making instead of trying to curry favour during a leadership contest.”
Another area in his portfolio is homelessness – something he faces constant criticism about due to the rising numbers.
In an interview with TheJournal.ie last year, he said he was pinning his reputation to the commitment to get families and children out of hotels and B&Bs.
“I am going after the commitments that I made. I am the type of person who sets targets. It is easy to set a target that isn’t difficult to achieve and then try to make yourself look good off the back of it – but sure that is not what politics or government should be about.”
One week in the contest is already drawing to an end. As of now, it looks like Varadkar is on his way. If he fails to win, what’s next for Simon Coveney? Would he like to remain on as Housing Minister?
I am not even thinking about that. This is not a negotiation for the next step in my career. This is a proposition that I want to put to Fine Gael members, councillors and Oireachtas members in the context of the leadership I want to provide for the party and that is my sole focus.
If I win that, well then I hope to be able to inspire a lot of people to a new approach in politics that may be less adversarial and be more unifying, particularly for those communities outside the political system.
If I don’t win it, I hope to play a very constructive role in politics in whatever brief or responsibility that I get – that is not really what drives me at all in terms of trying to get a position for myself. For me politics is about delivering to the maximum extent that you can improve people’s lives.
The core issue here is what is Fine Gael in politics for today – that is the key question – what drives us, what is Fine Gael politics and what does it bring to modern Ireland?
We hope to bring you an interview with Leo Varadkar next week.
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Who does he think he is
@Paul Dolan: Well he is the Chief Medical Officer, and will remain so after NPHET have been disbanded. The problem lies more in the fact that his opinion of the scope of his power is grossly inflated after being the pseudo Taoiseach for the past 18 months.
As has been stated by both himself and the Taoiseach, we need to move away from what has been viewed as an emergency towards living with the virus. The scrapping of those emergency powers to strip rights should go hand in hand with that. With the levels of immunity in the community now, infection rates will cease to matter as reinfections or breakthrough infections have a massively small percentage of people who require hospital treatment. As per other Coronavirus’ (the cold) that we have been living with for years.
@Kevin Kilcoyne: people don’t seem to understand that his remit is the Chief Medical Officer. He is only concerned with the prevention of the spread of the disease. He will suggest things that will do this. He doesn’t care about, nor should he, the impact on communions, confirmations, weddings, eating out or going to the pub. It’s up to government to find the balance based on his advise. Sadly the government aren’t willing or capable of doing that.
@Paul Dolan: The Chief Medical Officer
@Paul Dolan: The Chief Medical Officer whose advice and courage saved thousands of people from the worst rigours of this virus.
@Ted Logan: Agreed that the government have been sorely lacking in their assessment of the wider societal costs of the restrictions over the past 18 months and the blame for that is at their feet. The CMO however should have been conscious of the other healthcare costs however, such as the mental health crisis we now have, or the excess deaths were going to have from cancer for the next 10 years to name but two. You could even argue that his role as head of the emergency team assembled to deal with Covid, and their remit to reduce deaths and hospitalisations, was a conflict of interest between his responsibility to ensure provisions for all ailments and to provide a level of care that was balanced to the risks presented.
@Elrond Rivendell: it really didnt
@Paul Dolan: The voice of reason and science.
@Paul Dolan: Agreed. Almost the entire population will be vaccinated soon.Why are the need for more restrictions?
@Paul Whitehead: The voice of science? Where was the science behind the 2k travel limit? Where was the science behind the 40k in Croke park one weekend and only 24k the next? The actual science now, not the theory of it.
That’s just two examples of this so called science.
He more been the voice of pseudoscience than science in this pandemic.
@Kevin Kilcoyne: And what’s your area of expertise, I wonder! Typical bar-room experts, and only platform is the journal..
@Elrond Rivendell: No it didn’t.
@Paul Dolan: King of Ireland.
@ed w: Eh, it actually did. Had we listened to the whining hâlfwits who wanted to open up at all costs for their chicken wings and indoor scoops instead of NPHET’s advice, we would have experienced far worse than we did. But yeah, Tony bad because something something freedom, something something George Soros. Gotcha.
@Paul Dolan: “advisers advise, ministers decide”
@Paul Dolan: hahaha….triggered! Good man
@Paul Dolan: it’s his bloody job!
@Kevin Kilcoyne: “ massively small percentage “ lmfao what a contradictory statement
Any restrictions in the future would not be adhered to with the current public mood.
@Vincent Bickerstaffe: I think you will see a divide in that public mood dependent on IQ
@Craic_a_tower: Or dependent on cozy ar$$holes who expect everything to be delivered to them while they sit at home.
@Seth Mcguinness: I think when he mentioned IQ thats what he implied.
@Vincent Bickerstaffe: Your mood does not equal the public’s mood. The vast majority of people in this country are capable of rational thought and will realise that no-one is bringing in restrictions for the craic. I hope it doesn’t happen because it will mean somethings gone badly wrong. But if it needs to be done it will be done. Sad fact is it will be done, if needs be, by use of laws and threats of fines. That’s down to the irrational minority, the anti-maskers, the anti-vaxxers and their kidult mob.
@Tommy Roche: and your mood does?
@Vincent Bickerstaffe:
The public “mood” has in general been quite rational. Massive uptake of vaccines. General compliance with public health guidelines and an understanding of the risks involved with the virus. Take a peak at less developed European countries with lower vaccination rates, poorer education levels, greater levels of superstition & a historical mistrust of the institutions of government and you see an unsurprising higher death rate from the virus.
@Vincent Bickerstaffe: wrong
They can impose what they want but this country has had enough and wont adhere any further restrictions.
@Mary OGorman McGuire: We all know that’s not true. The majority will comply, some will take to College Green and protest and a mix of both groups will go straight to the Journal comment section with their newfound expertise on infectious diseases to argue over things like R rates, case numbers, vaccine efficacy and why they should be CMO instead of Tony because they googled a load of articles that said masks are no better at preventing virus spread than loud music is at disguising farts.
@WadeBoggs: I can honestly say I don’t know how people will react in the event of new restrictions. It would be my guess and it’s only a guess that the number who react negatively will greatly increase from the current level of same. I could easily be wrong. I’m no expert. It’s a bit ironic you slagging off people who comment here about their ‘new found expertise’ when it seems you’ve gained some new found expertise in mind reading when you claim ‘We all know that’s not true…’ in relation to a particular view of how people will react…
@Mary OGorman McGuire: good woman Mary, you show them who’s boss, while you contract and spread covid.
@Fr. Cyril McDuff: Here’s some groundbreaking news for you, Father. You can also contract and spread Covid when fully vaccinated. Do you suggest everyone hide under the bed even with the vaccine?
@WadeBoggs: Well put, the journal comments section is full of “experts”, man oh man.. so many comedians! NOT
@Mary OGorman McGuire: Get over yourself. Intelligent people will do whatever is necessary to deal with a global disease pandemic. The CMO isn’t responsible for disease, he advises how to cope.
@Mary OGorman McGuire:
Grab your torch & pitchfork Mary. We’ll see you outside the Dáil in an hour…!
@Mary OGorman McGuire: wrong
Is Tony running the country again?
He needs to go now.He keeps making it up as he goes along
@Mick Dunne: Was wondering how long it would be before the Facebook researchers turned up.
@Mick Dunne: the other way to say that, he keeps responding to an ever changing pandemic.
@Mark Brown: I am entitled to my opinion don’t like it then piss off
@Tony Gordon: True
@Mick Dunne: you’d prefer he never change his opinion regardless of new evidence ?
@Mick Dunne: Are you back on FB?
@Mick Dunne: what a response are you running to mammy to tell on the bad Internet people lol..
@Mick Dunne: if you don’t like Tony’s opinion, then – by the same measure you laid out – why don’t you pïss off instead of dissing it ?!
Check yo’self. If you can’t take criticism of your opinions mate – don’t diss others’ opinions.
@Mick Dunne: Miaow
Will someone tell this supposedly highly intelligent man that ship has sailed, u will never be able to reimpose that level of restrictions on the Irish public again, u can impose what u want, very few will pay any heed to you, lol
I think the general public will rule it out
Doom merchant Holohan just can’t let go can he. Between himself and the gangsters in the WHO like Nabarro. There hasn’t been a squeak from the CMO’s all over Europe but some how Holohan knows more and feels he has more authority to talk nonsense and to throw around I’ll founded gobbledygook when he feels like it. Jog on.
@Robert Clifford: When you say ‘there hasn’t been a squeak from the CMOs all over Europe’, you don’t think that you more aware of Tony Holohan because he’s the CMO of the country you’re in? I can tell you, the CMOs in many countries have been very active and very vocal. Mostly because it’s their job. Have you heard of Chris Whitty? The UK CMO. Likely you have because he’s the neighbouring CMO and we get exposed to all their media. But have you heard from the Czech CMO? Unlikely. But doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a squeak out of him…
Despand nphet
Had enough of his threats and incompetence
@Richarddoherty: disband Richard Doherty…waaaay too much whining
@Captain Unsensible: haven’t started on the cmos incompetence yet what about all the unnecessary suffering by sick women under his watch
@Captain Unsensible: he is entitled to his opinion no need to be rude
@Richarddoherty: Very true also sending covid patients back into nursing homes without the necessary ppe.
@Richarddoherty: You mean the team of scientists and Doctors who saved thousands of lives? Did they disturb your drinking routine?
@Paul Whitehead: no can drink at home if I choose which I did the team of scientists doctors are replacing our government ministers who are employed to make major decisions which oviously are government are incapable of
@Richarddoherty: *our
He calls it as he sees it as he is supposed to do. He does not make the decisions. He just gives them the options.
Other CMOs of other country’s are saying exactly the same thing.
he is not just making it up.
None of us wanted the policies to last as long as they have but many lives were saved.
@Gary Kearney: Adopting a widespread antigen testing strategy also saves lives.
Many of you have short memories. His advice in the early stages of Covid ( and it was only advice) saved hundreds if not thousands more from dying in the Republic. Remember Bergamo and the build up of coffins – we could have been like that scenario.
@Irish big fellow: People with low IQ’s have short memories it seems. It must be a sickener when you have spent 10 years doing a doctorate and then you find yourself being questioned on your expertise by folks who barely scraped through their junior cert.
@Irish big fellow: yeah we could have had 80k dead by Sept 2020 like Dr. mcConkey predicted. My bloody eyeball, such bs. This disease is only deadly to the elderly and obese. Time to start educated yourself on it and turn off propoganda mam channels
@Irish big fellow: His advice in the early stages of Covid was to recommend putting Covid patients into nursing homes and as a result thousands of our most vulnerable people died.
@Irish big fellow: Maybe tell that to the elderly he, NPHET and HSE literally culled back in the early stages of covid. The elderly removed from hospitals, to free up beds, to nursing homes homes unfit for purpose. Nursing homes that were not given any proper PPE, never mind given any guidance or assistance on covid protocols. Ask the relatives of these poor people if theyhave short memories.
@Alan Biddulph: – Just because He is well educated does not mean He is intelligent.
Get lost, sick of hearing from this guy, stand up people of Ireland and collectively grow a pair
@Hugo Bugo: a pair of what? They’ll be the last thing on your mind if this isn’t handled properly. Tony is doing his best with the information he’s been given and trying to do what’s best. I don’t know why you and so many others here are determined to poke fun at him and criticise. Tell me, because I’m interested. What EXACTLY would you have done back in March 2020 and all the months since. Give me your unending wisdom, kind Sir.
@Hugo Bugo: If we collectively grow a pair, who gets to keep them? How big do they need to be? Where will we keep them? Is there a gofundme for the science behind this? Ironically enough Tony is probably a man who would know the science behind such a proposal. Maybe we can ask him when he’s finished trying to save some people from themselves.
@Anna Carr: grapefruits :), yes I am a wise old owl but unfortunately no I am not kind.
@Anna Carr: Well I wouldn’t have taken 1000 people from all over the world into this country for a conference on Alcohol pricing. Some from countries with infection rates higher then ours at the time. Yet Holohan thought it was appropriate. I also would not have thrown our elderly into nursing homes which were unfit for purpose and without proper P.P.E or guidance.
@Franny Ando: yep there’s the other people’s 20/20 hindsight vision. Have you any concept of the difficult position Tony is in. Some here are like the ones on the couch sloshing down beer and burgers telling the footballers and the ref how to do everything. Different story when you’re it.
@Anna Carr: Nothing to do with hindsight. NPHET and Government had already put the 1st restrictions in place 2km etc. Holohan still went ahead with this ridiculous and completely unnecessary conference to bolster his own ego. He also refused to answer questions from the media at time regarding same. Representatives came from countries that were a lot worse then this country at the time. You can verify all of this for yourself.
@Franny Ando: if I was him I’d adopt a phrase from the commitments movie, when Jimmy rabbit stood up and said “ya know what?, go and fluck yourselves” and just walk away. Whatever he does is wrong.
@Anna Carr: Well that’s at least one thing you are correct about..”whatever he does is wrong “and it is past time he walked away.
CMO trying to stay relevant. Go back to your office and let the rest of us get on with earning a living.
look he earns squllions so he has to keep saying these things to appear he’s, worth the money
@Geoff Bateman: no he doesn’t. In fact he could earn way more if he got out of public health. His salary is public info. He is paid €187k
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/dr-tony-holohan-paul-reids-24469958
@Geoff Bateman: a consultant earned €640,000 from the HSE last year for contrast
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/hse-paid-hospital-consultant-more-than-640-000-last-year-1.4612395
@Geoff Bateman: average consultant doctors earn €470,000
https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/health/consultants-earn-more-than-1bn-in-three-years-to-treat-private-patients-38558199.html
@Elaine Phelan: so what you are saying is if he was any way competent he’d be working as a consultant?
@Anthony Guinnessy: no that’s not what I am saying at all. Interesting interpretation. My point is that he clearly cares about public health, and he put that ahead of earning potential. The man worked crazy hours, through some of the most difficult personal circumstances, to guide us through a once-in-a-generation global pandemic, whilst people on the journal sat around calling him awful names from the sidelines
Would he ever and go and…… rhymes with right
This man needs to go away now. And stop talking about covid-19. Hasn’t he got other things to be doing. Like sorting out the mess that was make in cancer testing
Obvious thing to say. New variants will arise.
@Munster1: sounds like you really want to go back into lockdown.
Would someone ever put a muzzle on that man
@Margaret Kane: The man who saved thousands of lives?
@Paul Whitehead: thats fine in the past. he’s now talking into the future when all cohorts who wanted a vaccine will have 1 and presumably boosters available for the vulnerable. life has to move on and not with continues restrictions. thats not life moving on. he needs to give it a rest at this stage.
Love the ‘Il Duce’ pose…
Many ppl in this country are afraid of heights. That’s why it’s not compulsory to climb stuff. Every accomodation has been afforded the population. Tim for those who wish to get on with it.
Whatever gets rid of this virus is fine by me. Yes, I’m fed up like everyone else but a choice between that and dying is kind of no contest in my book.
@Anna Carr: You would be terribly unlucky to die once you’re vaccinated.
@Benny McHale: lol. My life has always been defined by “Murphys Law” if it CAN happen, it usually does. Haha!
@Anna Carr: if you want to stay locked up then stay inside. Don’t impose your fear on the rest of us. Let us get on with our lives. Our health is our own responsibility. If your afraid of your shadow stay away
@Anna Carr: I don’t believe people like you are as fed up as the rest of us. I think you love it. you’re the sorts of people who probably always resented the rest of the world for being able to enjoy themselves without worrying about everything.You’re abject cowards who have suddenly been able to surround yourselves with other abject cowards and for the first time in your life you don’t feel like a fish out of water and you’re loving it.You can pretend that’s untrue if you wish but I don’t believe you for a second
@Francis40Masks: thanks so much. Have a great evening.
@bartleby: haha. You’re so right. I love this situation. It’s what I prayed for all my life. How perceptive you are. I’m so envious of your high intelligence and insight. Next problem I have, I hope you don’t mind me coming straight to you for advice. Thanks SO much. I’m all fixed now. My hero.
This is classic psychological torture 101.pretend to give a person freedom and then whip it away. My god people please please wake up
No chance of new restrictions with the lads getting into election mode.
Tony’s on the payroll for this worldwide control system that enjoys controlling people’s lives. It’s no longer or ever was about health. Can ye not see this now? First the vulnerable, then the general population and now the kids! Control Control Control. Stand up and fight this dictorial regime before it’s too late..
Here’s a selfish one. I know a person who thinks lockdowns are great because they protect her immune compromised sister. So everybody should suffer for her sister, that’s the thinking.
He hasn’t gone away, you know!
@Stephen Doyle: There’s more chance of covid going away than him.
I’d rather die.
@leartius: would you rather kill others?
@Craic_a_tower: Dont be silly.
Not a chance !!
Classic neoliberalism. No accountability from the useless government that has had over 18 months to increase hospital capacity, but the people may have to suffer again soon because of that very lack of accountability.
Since the vast majority of recent Covid cases are occurring in the unvaccinated young, these are the people that should be targeted in any further restrictions, has to be said and to help with the Loud minority who think otherwise…
@Charles Coughlan: lots of people who were vaccinated are getting it. Some very sick.
@Mary Oliver: But not as sick as those not vaccinated, simple as, vaccines are designed to protect against serious illness, Covid jabs have around 90% efficacy, means that for a small minority they don’t work very well, probably better than those who don’t get vaccinated..
I was going to go to a concert on Friday but not only did everyone need to be vaccinated (fair enough) but they are also supposed to wear a mask for the duration! Moronic
Public measures such as wearing a mask,using hand sanitizer and following social distancing when in Public places I agree kinda wish they would keep distancing at the tills in shops forever. As before Covid, next person was already unloading their shopping on the belt and I still had items in my trolley I had nowhere to place. But I don’t think I can deal with another lockdown Mentally. Last lockdown was a lot harder than first one and have been working through out this whole thing.
Girl, bye.
What a weak Taoisach we have?. Tell this guy to get lost as he doesnt run the country.
Sorry Tony no more lockdowns , you all did a fabulous job but no more lockdowns not at any price, we’ve all paid enough.
I miss an aul lockdown
@Genera L Consensus: I miss the Saturday night neighbours and the street bingo.
Go fluich you Tony
I love the Journal
I think it’s fairly unlikely there will be any return of restrictions unless we have a new even worse strain at some point. If that was the case it would be less of an issue to normal people. Though you would still have a minority who don’t care how many dies as long as they get to the pub. But if things continue to go the way they are it’s hard to envisage a need to increase restrictions again.
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