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LAST UPDATE | 24 Mar 2020
PRIVATE HOSPITALS WILL act as part of the public health system for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, the government has announced.
Some 2,000 beds, nine laboratories and thousands of staff have been drafted into the public system, Leo Varadkar said at a press conference today.
Speaking at the same press conference, Health Minister Simon Harris said “there can be no room for public versus private” when responding to the Covid-19 crisis.
“We must of course have equality of treatment, patients with this virus will be treated for free, and they’ll be treated as part of a single, national hospital service.
“For the duration of this crisis the State will take control of all private hospital facilities and manage all of the resources for the common benefit of all of our people. There can be no room for public versus private when it comes to pandemic,” Harris said.
A further 219 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the Republic of Ireland last night, bringing the total number of cases here to 1,125. There have been six deaths confirmed to date. Updated figures will be announced later today.
Non-essential businesses closing
A raft of new measures were announced by the government this afternoon – all non-essential businesses are set to close and there will be restrictions on gatherings of more than four people.
“As we navigate through this very difficult public health emergency, we have clearly asked the Irish people to make real and great sacrifices. If we’re being honest, it’s all a bit surreal for people.
“People didn’t see this coming – this is something that came upon us as a country and a world so quickly,” Harris said.
He added that the Irish people “have risen to that challenge”, and there are “early and encouraging signs” of the impact of this.
However, he said “now is the time clearly to do more” and “intensive, sustained, public health action” is required to help flatten the curve of the virus.
The new measures were agreed by Cabinet earlier today following a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team this morning. They will remain in place until at least Sunday, 19 April.
All non-essential retail outlets have been told to close, with restaurants and cafés told to close unless they can offer a take-away option. Supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open.
There will be no restrictions on the amount of times a person can leave their home a day but people are being told not to exceed groups of four people.
Individuals should work from home unless workplace attendance is essential.
All theatres, clubs, gyms, leisure centres, hairdressers, betting shops, marts, markets, casinos, bingo halls, libraries and similar outlets are to close.
All sporting events are cancelled, including those behind closed doors. All playgrounds and holiday/caravan parks are also due to close.
Varadkar also confirmed that the new Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment will rise to €350, while Revenue will run a temporary wage scheme to guarantee 70% of wages up to €38,000.
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I’m sure lots of people throw a bet for a bit of fun. But, I can’t help but think that lots of people are going without the basics to keep Paddy in €69 million profit.
Great to see the UK and Irish governments indirectly helping out paddy power in the form of dole payments!
its insane that we see more of these shops up and down the country at the one time that people should not be wasting money on such nonsense,
either these types of shops should be more heavily restricted or there has to be a way to restrict how dole money can be spent…because betting is not an acceptable use!
I’ll waste my money on whatever nonsense I want.
Why should the shops be restricted!?! It’s a person’s own decision to go in there & bet their money!! If it turns out that the money being punted originated as a welfare payment then more-fool us, as a state, for giving it to them!!
The Chinese love to gamble even though it is illegal in Mainland China. The Chinese population in Ireland will keep Paddy Power afloat : )
They don’t need the chinese to help em, we’re not shy of a bet or two. But your right the chinese and a few more Asian countries have the gambling gene big style..
getting into bed with the Italian and Spanish governments to rip-off punters in those countries was a solid business move.
banning or severely limiting anyone who turns a profit also helps.
they’re a mickey mouse bookie really. All style, no substance.
No substance ? I bought some of their shares 18 months ago at €27 each, today they’re worth €52 each, I’ve nearly doubled my money on them so for me they have plenty of substance to go with their style. Paddy Power are one of the most profitable Irish companies about and if they manage to crack the US and Canadian markets that share price will go even higher up towards €70.
And you don’t know what you’re talking about Steve.
I don’t dispute their business acumen. They provide a lot of jobs here and I applaud them for it.
But their success is based on clever marketing and the ability to attract the casual punter that doesn’t particularly care about things like low limits and lousy margins, in contrast to somewhere like Pinnacle where competitiveness pricing and limits are everything.
Paddy Power is not a place for serious punters and any book that offers odds on a market and then only allows a customer to place less than a tenner on it is Mickey Mouse in my book.
And I can assure you I know what I’m talking about.
have your say