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LAST UPDATE | 27 Nov 2020
THIS EVENING THE Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced the government’s plan for exiting Level 5.
He outlined the measures that will be in place over the Christmas period which will allow people to visit and spend time with family or friends.
Cabinet was due to meet at about 2pm so hopefully they are all sitting down now to thrash out the final details of the plan, which sounds like it will be more complicated than any we’ve had so far.
It also sounds like this plan will be the government’s biggest deviation from the public health advice.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) told the government’s Covid-19 subcommittee that a choice would have to be made between re-opening hospitality and allowing household visits.
They recommended pubs and restaurants remain closed to customers, offering a takeaway service only throughout December.
However the subcommittee decided restaurants and gastro-pubs should be allowed to open back up, with further measures in place. This may include smaller numbers allowed to mix and a shorter time limit than one hour and 45 minutes.
When it comes to household visits, it is likely the government will announce the ban will remain in place until later in the month, possibly as late as 18 December.
At this time the restriction on inter-county travel is also expected to be lifted.
It is not yet clear how many people and how many households will be allowed to mix on Christmas Day and over the days around it.
Last night the discussion is understood to have focused on three households, plus your own, with a max of six people. However, it is believed Cabinet might opt for a max of ten people.
Sources have said those in government are of the view that people are going to meet up for Christmas, no matter what NPHET or the government say, and it is better to be realistic about that prospect, and try and manage it, rather than trying to stop it.
If Cabinet managed to sit down at the table on time at 2pm, they’ll have around four hours before the Taoiseach is expected to address the nation at 6pm.
That will give people plenty of time to digest whatever he announces before the Late Late Toy Show at 9.35pm.
And this year, we need the joy of the Toy Show more than ever. It might even be the best one yet:
.@moscannail takes a sneak peek behind the scenes of The Late Late Toy Show to sample the excitement | https://t.co/wgWFhVNDrs pic.twitter.com/YBDqUa7F06
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 27, 2020
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly seemed positive as he headed into the Cabinet meeting:
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says the hospitals are stable, and Ireland is having a very different conversation today compared to our European counterparts pic.twitter.com/6E8o9HhKpe
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) November 27, 2020
Some newlyweds also stopped by Government Buildings, congratulations Cathal and Mark!
Newlyweds Cathal Farrell and Mark Hughes stop by Government Buildings after getting hitched 💕 pic.twitter.com/H1JEy7uNJu
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) November 27, 2020
Some leaks coming out of Cabinet already – no hugging on Christmas Day. Also people will be advised to wear a mask when cooking and serving Christmas dinner:
NEW: The government advice this evening will say there should be no hugs or handshakes with people you invite over for Christmas.
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) November 27, 2020
The government is set to announce retailers, gyms and hairdressers and barbers will be the first businesses allowed to re-open from next week.
And some stores are already letting their customers know they’ll be back:
Opening times for next week;
— Hodges Figgis (@Hodges_Figgis) November 27, 2020
Tuesday-Friday: 9am - 8pm
Saturday: 9am - 6pm
Sunday: 11am - 6pm
Looking forward to seeing you all!
We’ve got an update from our Political Correspondent Christina Finn, who will be down at Government Buildings all evening:
“The Cabinet meeting began at 2pm, but there are no real surprises – much of what was expected is to come into effect.
“All retail, museums, gyms, tennis courts, golf courses are to open from next Tuesday. Wednesday was originally mooted, but that has changed. From next Friday, the hospitality section of the reopening will kick in with restaurants and pubs that serve food to re-open, but wet pubs will have to remain shut.
“Travel restrictions will ease in the days before Christmas, on 18 December, when home visits for up to three households will be advised. Travel advice will also be relaxed for inter-county travel
“The government want to make the advice clear and simple for people, with sources stating that there will be a lot of scenarios for people over the holidays, in which they will have to use their own judgement. Government advice will also say if you plan on having people over to your house, you should try to limit your contacts as much as possible beforehand.
“And in terms of practical advice, they are advising against hugging, shaking hands, and advising to limit the number of people in the kitchen. They want people to make sure air is circulating in the house, so people should open windows and doors if they have people over, to allow for fresh air to circulate.”
Christina said senior government sources have said they realise they are taking a “calculated risk” but have argued the progress made since entering Level 5 restrictions has enabled the relaxation of the rules.
“Government is of the view that people are going to meet up for Christmas, no matter what NPHET or the government say, stating that it is better to be realistic about that prospect, and try and manage it, rather than trying to stop it.”
In terms of sharp disagreements between the NPHET and government, Christina says it was largely due to indoor dining, but it is expected to be subject to strict regulation and inspection.
NPHET also wanted Mass to be allowed to resume for only two weeks of the month at the end of December but it is likely the government will allow masses from next week.
The Cabinet meeting is now finished so the Taoiseach has two hours to prepare some clear communication on all of this.
One of the big questions for people about this plan will be about how many of their friends and family they’ll be able to see over Christmas – and particularly on Christmas Day
It looks like there’ll be no maximum number of people for household visits (that doesn’t mean you should go wild though), but the advise will be two households on top of your own. That will be a tough one for bigger families:
In terms of households, government is understood to have gone for two households on top of your own household.
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) November 27, 2020
There is no specific mention of maximum numbers.
Govt keen to emphasize the need to look after people's mental well being at this time, which was key to this decision
More details here from our Political Correspondent Christina Finn on home visits.
Sources have said that household visits will be a personal choice for people to make with people urged to follow health advice in terms of ventilation and social distancing.
Ideally, no more than three households will meet at once, but there is an understanding that (especially at Christmas) the situation is different for each group of people.
If you have a large family who come together at Christmas time, it comes down to a personal decision on the numbers gathering this year.
Again, the guidance is for ideally two households on top of your own - so that is three separate families, or three separate units.
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) November 27, 2020
No cap on the numbers this time as the govt said it would cause confusion.
Wet pubs (pubs that don’t sell food) will still be allowed to sell takeaway pints under the new set of restrictions.
Most of the details of the announcement have been well-flagged by now, and the Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to give his state of the nation address at around 6pm.
Preparations are ongoing at Government Buildings at the moment for the Taoiseach’s address which will be aired on RTÉ television.
It’s reporter Orla Dwyer here to cover the address as it happens. We’ll have you sorted throughout the evening with stories explaining what the new measures will mean for you.
While we wait for the Taoiseach, a quick reminder that you can support our journalism by making a one-off or monthly contribution to the site.
Our supporters ensure we can keep providing open access to things like factchecking, reporting, analysing, investigating and explaining. thejournal.ie/contribute/
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has begun his address to the nation this evening to confirm the latest Covid-19 restrictions.
He said it has been six weeks since he last spoke to the nation.
He said at that stage, it was essential to go further than Level 3 restrictions to help stop the spread of the virus.
The “encouraging news” this evening is that the sacrifices and efforts to reduce the spread of the virus are working, the Taoiseach has said.
“This cannot and will not be the kind of Christmas we are used to,” Micheál Martin said.
He said we can soon enjoy some respite from the hardships of 2020, and in particular the past six weeks.
The country will move to Level 3 from 1 December, with some modifications in place.
Among the new measures confirmed this evening, the Taoiseach said museums, galleries, cinemas and libraries will reopen on 1 December with restrictions in place
Restaurants and gastropubs may open for indoor dining, again with restrictions in place.
He said we all have individual personal responsibility and people can make this reopening “sustainable”.
In a move not flagged ahead of time, the use of face coverings will now be recommended in busy outdoor spaces where there is a significant congregation of people, crowded workplaces and places of worship.
Speaking to children getting ready to watch the Late Late Toy Show later this evening, the Taoiseach issued a message saying: “I know that this is a very special time of year for you.”
He said children’s strength and the way they have coped with the challenge of Covid-19 has been inspiring.
You are the future of this country and we all want to make sure that you have the opportunity to grow.
He wrapped up the speech with a quote from Roald Dahl, the works of whom the Toy Show is themed around this year.
For full details of the latest restrictions, check out our main piece here.
That’s all from us for today’s liveblog, keep an eye on the site throughout this evening for a breakdown of all the new measures coming into place over the next month.
Have a good evening!
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Finally……..this will be fantastic when it’s completed.
This should cost around €500m by the time it’s completed.
Fantastic my a***
Find a construction project from the past few years to back that up? I think you’ll find it difficult.
More money for the big Dutch construction firm…
I think Michael is referring to both the Port Tunnel and the M50… I hope you’re wrong…
Lmao
We could do this every year we halved the foreign aid budget.
My husbag-self employed– gets quite a bit of work from BAM and also my brother is in full time employment with them… I know of quite a good few people that are irish and employed by them- it saves my family and my brothers family from having to move abroad for work…
Has the New Ross bypass been given the go-ahead or is it still in planning?
How much are we paying in compo per week to operators of M3 and M7 tollways?
100 k per week,
Multiply that by 25 years
Correct me if I’m wrong. But didn’t the work on Newlands Cross commence months ago? Why is this being announced today. Is there an election looming by any chance?
Yeah… This was last year… I thought that email notification looked a but odd…
Will it be tolled though is the most important question?
As far as I know this can’t be tolled as there is no other alternative route. For example you can drive from Maynooth to Kinnegad and avoid the toll by going through Enfield, but the N7 toll would have no alternative route.
Can you imagine the anger if people suddenly had to pay on a journey which was always free?
All PPP projects are tolled (that is the concession for the NRA not putting up the full cost of the road). If the tolls don’t pay for the road and interest, then the state will pay BAM directly. These models have failed terribly for the sake of short term infrastructure gains – the m50 made ntl a (semi corrupt) fortune and we ended up paying extensively over the costs to ‘relieve’ them while retaining tolling. The other PPPs (apart from the M1) are all loss making and the state would have been better off building the things directly out motor tax returns and letting people use them.
Good question on the tolling – usually a “concession” allows tolling. I can’t imagine that Newlands Cross being tolled?!?
No they won’t.
It won’t be tolled according to Conor Faughnan of AA.
Brian we weren’t gonna get water tax either but here we are on the verge. If it suits “them” it’ll be tolled no matter what they say now.
The guy from the NRA was on the radio today. They won’t be tolled, they’re on a deferred payment deal of some sort.
Long overdue. The N7 problem will be hugely relieved with the upgrade to Newland’s Cross.
Well I see Ireland has not changed still fuc&&ing moaning
Moans about Ireland moaning…
Hopefully it will be built correctly unlike the N7 between Newlands X and Naas which turns into a swimming pool every time there is a shower of rain!
Sent many a golf ball onto that junction while playing golf at Newlands..
So that was you. Now, where did I put that repair bill……..?
123 fake street Dublin.
Watched an ambulance with it’s sirens flashing wait 4 minutes trying to cross this Newlands Cross junction from the Belgard Road to the Fonthill Road. Hopefully it wasn’t responding to something too serious.
Ridiculously long sequence on the lights at Newlands Cross.
Good news! Both projects should have been done years ago.
yes ,once again bad planning and brown envelopes were 2 blame again
Would you give me tonight’s lotto numbers please!
What a difference that will make! It’s badly needed.
Ok, this is a bit more like it. Lets hope some more projects like this can get started soon
Thank god they are not putting tolls on these roads. They are badly needed inprovements.
A bit of progress on the jobs front can only be looked on as a positive. More of the same please.
The flyover is great news but I think the country needs some form of rail network to connect Hueston and the airport
Think what could be done with €282m if it was put into developing proper broadband services for rural communities rather than a big roundabout. What percentage of people are going to use this junction to get into the city to sit at a keyboard?
Yeah, why not put €282 million into developing broadband in rural Ireland, where it could possibly create a few jobs? Or else put it into a built up city that requires better facilities for its thousands of commuters … Hmmmm what a toughy!
We cut put the 282 million into relocating once off country housing into a more sustainable form so that services could actually be provided in an efficient manner. Or windmills, lots of windmills.
To put the Newlands Cross Scheme into perspective, it will benefit 100,000 people every day for nearly the same price as the Western Rail Corridor which is used by 100,000 people annually. This is capital investment that is worth every cent and has high benefits for many
That’s far too sensible. Remember that the western rail corridor is worth about 100k votes, even if none of the voters ever use it. Won’t be long before the bumpkin politicians complain about Dublin getting all the money when this news gets outs.
rural broadband would be less than 282million to rollout due 2 better technology nowadays!
Have they just given away another toll for 35 years? Have they learned nothing?
Where are you getting 35 years?
Meant 25. bam taking responsibility for 35km stretch of road arklow/gorey bypass. This sounds like a 25 year toll to me. I wonder if its a similar contract to the ones that cost the state so much. Short sighted by government if so.
Yep, for some reason people think BAM will build a road in good faith for the good of the country – they get a loan to build the road and make it back by either tolls or additional taxes over 35 years. This is more ‘long finger’ development that let a minister open a shiny road, but the commuters and tourist will be rueing it for years.
Another big European firm looked after with Irish borrowed money.
Jesus Christ can this government not see what’s happening.
Wool over eyes come to mind.
Just because it’s a PPP does not mean it will be tolled.
Ah lenoard we don’t have big enough companys here to take on the jobs.I worked for them in limerick there a good crowd to work for they pay well and hire huge numbers of men from the areas the jobs are in.all these jobs go out for tender so Irish company’s can apply for it
What that means is that BAM will be responsible for maintaining that stretch rather than Wicklow and Wexford County Councils. It doesn’t mean a toll, unless the Government decides to toll it as a revenue generating exercise (separate from the PPP)
About bleeding time,
Has anybody calculated how much of a fuel &CO2 saving will happen from building the Newlands Cross upgrade? Think about no longer having to sit in traffic for 20 or so minutes with the engine ticking over, it has got to be a lot. Bet the NRA did not or could not calculate this.
Misleading headline – the created jobs are not permanent
waste of money. should invest in public transport instead instead of failing fossil fuel infrastructure
They have learnt nothing
@one-off
‘Permanent’? Who said they would be permanent ?
The idea of a permanent job is thankfully disappearing fast even in the public services.
Employment is mobile.
in focusing on the article – public transport could offer no alternative for a flyover at Newlands X. It is a no-brainer decision and should have happened when the Red Cow debacle was resolved
It is temporary work, but any work is good news. BAM are a very big company, and will outsource a lot of this work – the majority of the €232 million will not even touch irish bank accounts, never mind the coffers.
Not too sure of the red thumbs for the suggestion, all public transport is in general ‘ppp’ as it always generates income, and i would rather be sitting on a 30 minute decent commuter train than 2 hours in traffic.
Its not a no brainer – spending money on roads is daft and takes away from other transport modes where we should concentrate resources. Current government policy is to radically reduce car trips http://www.smartertravel.ie/ not to make it more convenient for people to drive
Motorways are essential to economic activity.. these are relatively small upgrades to an incomplete network, imagine the cost of upgrading the Dublin Wexford rail line which currently takes the better part of 3 hours to travel, and don’t forget our trains are diesel electric so no point on being on an environmental high horse. Roads and reduced travel times help enhance economic activity and reduce costs of goods/services.
Traffic light free junction? Looks like a load of traffic lights in that image.
Peter
No traffic lights for traffic going straight through the junction and staying on the N7.
Traffic heading to / from Tallaght & Clondalkin, (turning on/off the N7) there will be traffic lights.
So basically 80-90% of the traffic using the junction will be not be stopped for traffic lights.
Pity you have only shown one picture !! Wold of loved to have seen all the junctions from different angles ..
Have a look here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1599158 Plenty of illustrations.
Thanks Brian.
Thanks for the link, Brian. I live just beside Newlands, this will be a bit of disruption while being built but will be great when finished. Apparently it’s the busiest junction in the country. I can well believe it having to sit there waiting for my turn to go at least twice a day.
How long before someone other than me mentions Metro North….The northside shoppers train
They should borrow the money from E.I.B to build metro north and Dart underground. It will create over 20,000 jobs.
How many times will the newlands cross project be announced by this government? I see they recently announced tbe joining of the 2 luas lines for the umpteenth time!
The way I read it people around Gorey /Arklow will be paying a toll on it for 25 years.
Also the people of Ireland will be forking out money to BAM when the (probably unrealistic ) usage per year isn’t met.
That’s only the way it seems to me
your probably right as that is what currently happens on other toll roads.
There will be no tolls on this road so locals need not worry
How do you know?
I read the contract online, also reported as such on rte.ie
Bout time they sorted out newlands cross. Pity they didn’t do it 20 years ago. Will pay for itself in 3 years – increased productivity, etc
N25 not M25. The waterford bypass isn’t a motorway.
i’m indifferent. one thing I know it will cost significantly more than stated ,probably will cause mayhem when it opened and a miniscule amount of jobs will be created.
Typical uninformed moaning comment without any basis in fact. Practically every road project since 2005 has come in under budget and ahead of schedule because of the contract type signed.
I’ll tell you what, let’s close down all those road and go back to carts and horses. Perhaps you’d prefer that.
It’ll probably cast a billion, the 282 million is probably the consultant fees
For all the families who have lost a loved one on the lethal stretch of road between rat new and arklow it is surely to be welcomed. Far to many people seriously hurt or killed over the years. Delighted at this announcement.
Will the new road between Arklow and Ashford bypasses be a Moterway? Talk of N11 rather than M11 is not very promising
It’ll be motorway when it opens. It’s being built to same road spec, and will be designated as a motorway before it opens. The NRA will seek the redesignation under the Roads Act 2007, as it has done for other schemes.
They said on the news/radio that they won’t be putting tolls on the roads . What about gort to Galway motorway anyone know when that will be done so close to being finished but yet so far away .
According to DTTAS website construction will start by the end if this year, European Bank have agreed in principle to funding for same
So many positive people on here
More tolls?
Read the other comments? NO tolls
have your say