We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said that the country is “on track” for the lifting of the remainder of Covid-19 restrictions on 22 October.
Friday fortnight is scheduled to see a range of restrictions removed, including requirements for social distancing, most indoor mask-wearing and limits on numbers at events.
It is also planned that entry requirements to premises, such as vaccination certs or testing, will be removed as nightclubs open for the first time in 19 months.
Speaking today at an EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia, An Taoiseach said that “it’s all track right now”.
“We are on track for that. I’ve been talking to the Chief Medical Officer, the situation in schools has come back to summer levels, the CMO is happy with that, that’s stabilised,” Martin said.
The vaccination has had a huge impact in terms of preventing severe illness, mortality and excessive hospitalisation. That said, we still will have to wear masks where they’re statutory in terms of retail, public transport and healthcare settings.
Speaking yesterday, NPHET’s head of modelling Professor Philip Nolan said that Ireland was coming ‘close to suppressing’ Covid-19 and that “we’re in a good place” in relation to the lifting restrictions.
Cabinet is set to meet tomorrow in Dublin with the primary item on the agenda the decision over whether Ireland will sign up to OECD efforts to harmonise global corporation tax.
Martin also said that, over the coming weeks, Cabinet will be looking at the expansion of Covid-19 booster jabs. Booster shots are currently being scheduled for vulnerable groups, such as over 65s living in residential care and anyone over the age of 80.
Martin said today that health authorities will be looking at expanding booster vaccines to younger age cohorts throughout the winter.
“At the moment the booster vaccine has been administered in respect of certain categories, again the medical authorities will look at expanding that over the coming weeks in terms of the other age cohorts,” he said.
“That’s a matter that will have to be given consideration as we move closer into the into the winter period. And so look, it’s all it’s all on track right now.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
It’s about time. Well done NY!
@Sohoma Roanie: Agree, all private sector workers should follow suit, look at what P & O Ferries did, sacked almost 800 permanent staff and replaced them with cheaper labour. Zero contract hours and the use of agencies has gotten totally out of control.
@Frank Cauldhame: the P&O staff were already in a union though. The new owners simply choose to ignore due process and sack them all without consultation. Seems they have got away with it too
@David Hammond: They are being investigated by The Insolvency Service in the UK and their Directors face being disqualified. Hopefully they will be made an example of Dave.
Massive achievement. Well done all . Unions are vital in the workplace.
@David Beattie: Really – in the public sector workplace. Remember when they wouldn’t budge on the half day off a month to cash non existent cheques. Unions need to pick their battles.
@Jon Boylan: I’m speaking from my experience in retail and as a former shop steward. A union is only as strong as its members and I for one applaud anyone that joins one or is already in one. This is my own opinion whether others agree or not.
@David Beattie: 100% agree.
@Patricia O’Brien: thanks
@David Beattie: ‘Our job is to taste the fresh air, our so called bosses own the clocks that taunt us from the wall but we own the hour’
@Jon Boylan: They’re vital AND need to pick their battles. Both true really.
You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you fight for..
@l: you must have had a pretty 5hit time of it to be that cynical
@l: I would argue not. Who pays the rates and esb in liberty Hall. We have a hugely dysfunctional civil service and public service with no accountability from top to bottom and incremental pay increases in some sectors for people who are clearly not fit to perform their duties never mind a pay rise ( everyone had that teacher) this is all due to unions and herd mentality. Good for amazon maybe good for everyone definitely not
Amazon is one of a number of companies pushing capitalism to its limits and proving that capitalism without clear moral boundaries is an abomination
@Paul Jude Redmond: Absolutely spot on, well said.
That quote from the union worker is quality.
@ChadChaderson: Jeff the spacer,might regret going to his Homeland………..
If they can see it through to an actual union and ignore what ever carrot that will inevitably be hung out to tempt them it could be a watershed moment for employee rights in the US.
@Eddie O’Neill: the cynic in me is half expecting Amazon to just clean house and fire everyone. Sure as he’ll don’t think this is going to be a case of the little guy winning in the US for sure. Amazon and its endless resources and army of lawyers will find a way to crush this
cant understand the logic of these massive companies, dead set on only shareholder returns?surely at some stage the average person wont have disposable income to buy anything, then yer left with only the high income demographic ..who by then will also be in free fall cause their companies are falling due to demand drop offs.? seems illogical. as the old saying goes “pop will eat itself”. as bad as ford was at least he paid his workers enough so that they might be consumers of the cars they were making.
@Mick Heery: Short termism is the issue. It is just like climate change and many other issues we face, some people only care about themselves. Extreme greed should not be rewarded.
Several thousand workers in a single NY warehouse.. how many if this is replicated throughout the US and at others like Starbucks mentioned in the article?
Unions definitely the big winners here if this is carried through.
Loads of multinational companies here don’t have unions either, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google…..hopefully gonna start here soon as well.
@tommy:
And?
Most employees in those multinationals most likely have better terms and conditions than what is offered in comparable jobs outside the multinational sector.
I know I had when I worked for a multinational years ago.
They don’t want the Unions and the Unions aren’t interested in organising there. The existing arrangement seems to suit them both perfectly in Ireland…
Everyone here cheering this on. But you you honestly believe the unions really have the employees interests in mind? How much will those unions reps be paid? I think unions seemed to have positive impact when employees were treated like literal dirt, but now there are so many employee laws.
Please someone tell me I am wrong and give me impactful examples of what unions have really done in Ireland in the last 2-4 years. And I really do mean impactful… fighting for a 2% wage increase when inflation is higher than that is pointless. Also creating rules to ensure the absolute terrible people can’t be removed is also terrible. You all see the waste in various sectors, unions helped create that.
@Richard: I work in the private sector and there are people here who should be fired but they know someone.. so get off the stage dude.
@Billybutcher: did you do something about it? Did you raise your concerns to someone on leadership? Do you have solid data to show why that person is not performing at their job? Did you bring it to senior leadership if you do not trust line managers?
If not, kindly exit stage left.
I do dislike all the folks who complain about their colleagues and don’t want to do anything about it. Maybe they would actually get better if they got some feedback….
@Richard: the bit you’re overlooking here, is Amazon employees really are treated like dirt. There was a whole thing about it. Insanely long shifts and getting docked pay for using the toilet. With many hiding and peeing in bottles. Loads of other horrific stuff too. It was all over the news not so long ago. So yea a union would hugely help as it would give them rights. In ireland we have basic employee rights they don’t have in the states. Another thing you’re overlooking. This is in the states not ireland.
It seems crazy that we are still struggling for a right that was already won through huge struggle a hundred years ago, the right to organise.
thanks for going to space…lol.
Great stuff , they should make their Union sign Jeff’s Dildo Rocket
Goddam commies
have your say