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WITH ST PATRICK’S Day now just two months away, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that that he does not see any parades to mark the holiday going ahead this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The cancellation of parades around the country last March signalled the severity of the public health crisis that Ireland was heading into.
The streets look set to be quiet for two years running as the Taoiseach told Virgin Media News that there won’t be enough people vaccinated to allow festivities to go ahead this year.
“The one thing we’ve learned about this virus, it changes, it evolves into different phases, different variations are coming on stream. Clearly vaccination is the key to this,” the Taoiseach said.
Martin was also quizzed about the reopening of schools and he said that children with special needs are the government’s first priority for returning to classrooms, followed by leaving cert students.
The Taoiseach said the situation will be reassessed at the end of January but added that no guarantees can be given because of the high level of coronavirus circulating in the community.
Martin added that the preference across all government departments at present is for the leaving cert to be held in a traditional manner this summer.
“As of now we’re looking at a traditional leaving cert. I would say, all round, that we just need to hold our nerve and have a degree of patience on this,” he said.
The Taoiseach also said that US President-elect Joe Biden will come to Ireland on a state visit after tackling the coronavirus outbreak.
“He told me when I invited him after the conversation, after his election, he said: ‘try and keep me out’,” Martin said.
“Obviously with Covid being very dominant all over the world and in the United States, where it’s very, very prevalent at the moment, that’s his first task, he told me, when he would become president, to deal with the Covid-19 issue and to deal with the vaccinations there,” he added.
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See you in school Thursday though.
@Labhrás only if you’re in a special needs school.
@Teddy: he is!
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Labhrás Hayden: paddyday sesh 2034
@Patrick Hudi Irwin: ooops!
@Patrick Hudi Irwin: is there going to be a Paddy’s day sesh in a few year’s time?
@Patrick Hudi Irwin: understood you first time lad
@Labhrás Hayden: school is vital to peoples future. Paddy’s day is not. Risk vs reward.
And there is already talk in certain circles that pubs may not open again till August at the earliest. This has gone way too far, especially when there are many other experts and doctors in the field saying that our approach has been all wrong, and there are other ways.
@mark connolly: haha patricks day going has gone too far? You seen december, 4 weeks of level 3 and we had 8k cases per day.
Ill have some of whatever you’re smoking pal
@mark connolly: Here’s another tinfoil expert with a medical degree and a master’s in public health from ” Facebook and The Journal “
@mark connolly: yea and allowing people into pubs is really going to help.. NOT
@Fergus: What do you suggest, keep going on eternal lockdown?
@Jim: I’m nether a doctor or expert in epidemiology, however ive listened to many that say our current approach with draconian lockdowns are wrong especially in the long run. I don’t buy into conspiracies and the like. However if other experts are suggesting other approaches given what we now know, don’t you think its worth taking a look at?
@Patricia O’Reilly: I’m talking about other approaches other then draconian lockdowns. Seeing as many life long experts are coming forward with new info on how to handle it. Don’t you think its worth a look
@Patricia O’Reilly: Well Patricia, the pubs have been closed for the past 10 months, so maybe you should point your finger in a different direction, but before you do, maybe you would like to look at your own behavior. Too many people blaming others, when they themselves are not keeping to the guidelines.
@mark connolly: Anything is worth a try at this stage Mark, otherwise it is going to be continuous lockdowns.
@Gere: Exactly! Especially now with many other experts coming up with new approaches. Its nearly impossible to get people to reason, without someone trying to insult you like the above comments.
@mark connolly: “I’m nether a doctor or expert in epidemiology, however ive listened to many that say…….”
Mwah haw haw haw haw haw
@Mal Swan: If thats amusing to you, then why are you listening to anyone?? Have you got anything constructive to add to the conversation or do you just like trying to insult anyone that suggests an opinion. These lock downs are killing people, driving people to suicide, and other health problems. Why is that amusing to you?
@mark connolly: wow
@Mal Swan: very mature & constructive.
@mark connolly: Mark, don’t know why you would ever try responding to those above. They have neither the rational thought process or the vocabulary to carry on any kind of normal intelligent conversation on this subject. Cant say that I have any immediate answers but of late I have begun at least kick starting my brain with regard to the worldwide approach to this virus. To date what I have arrived at… its absolutely NUTS!!
@Mal Swan: Grow up
@Gavin Linden: Nuts is right! This is what worries me, its getting impossible to have an open an honest debate on what could be done without someone trying to be insulting.
@mark connolly: get over yourself snowflake. It’s only a bunch of keyboard warriors. The best approach is strict compliance and testing – l live in the UAE and life is normal enough, almost everything is open.
@mark connolly: What the government & NPHET are doing at the moment has made it worse rather than better. The best they can come up with is to blame the pubs/hospitality etc. There are business out there that have not been open since last March, so a new approach is needed. This industry cannot continuously be punished if other people are not following the rules. Either go for a complete lockdown for the whole country for 4 weeks, or else forget lockdowns. It is unfair to this industry & to the people of this country to keep this up, because as we know it is the same people it is affecting every time there is a lockdown while others can just get on with their lives.
@Patricia O’Reilly: they havnt been opened in the first place anyways so shruuuuuup.
@mark connolly: Pay no attention to the muppets. Civil service I would say.
@James Lough: LOL snowflake! you think i’m offended by keyboard warriors. Not so.
I respond for now because every place is different and we are playing an eternal game in Ireland. Its worse then ever. Seeing people driven to despair is a reason enough for responding.
@Gere: Yea, i think its time to just ignore. Some people there is no reasoning with them.
@James Lough: I would not be slow in firing the snowflake comment if I thought it was deserved but Mark has a good point that has been very obvious from quite early on in the covid spread. Maybe you do not experience it in UAE and good luck to you on that. What is concerning is there is not only a lack of alternative opinion but it is hammered any time it raises its head, from almost every angle. Reminds me of the fable of The Emperors New Clothes, even Hans Christian Andersen could not have dreamed up what the general public are swallowing now.
@mark connolly: Covid has turned into a cult. Almost impossible to reason with the followers.
@mar: It really seems that way!
@Patricia O’Reilly: that’s people’s livelihoods!what is your vendetta against pubs?
@Patricia O’Reilly: what is your vendetta against pubs??
@mark connolly: Experts, Experts and eh Experts! Who are they Mark, sources, names? I haven’t seen much said in regards these experts giving expert opinion on their expertise re lockdowns being outdated.
@Gavin Mckenna: Thank you for asking, a good start would be the work of Ivor cummins. Backed up by epidemiologists from Harvard and Oxford universities. Can’t remember names off hand, but even there is now a consensus agreement signed by over 150 experts on viruses. These things are available for anyone to research, but for some reason being ignored. Its not facebook experts if thats what you are assuming
@Gavin Mckenna: At the risk of being rude Gavin, open your eyes and ears, as good old judge Judy would say try putting on your ‘listening ears’. Lots out there for you to explore, lots of complete BS but lots of other factual views that you can at least open a brain cell to, god knows what could happen.. Don’t be sitting round the television at 6 each evening waiting for the match of the day results on RTE etc (and here included). Strange as you may find not all the worlds experts are sitting in that 32 inch screen in the corner of your room. Go on give it a go..
@mark connolly: Lockdowns work but only if the supply is turned off at the same time and contact tracing employed. And that means shutting the boarders … Only then can you hope to get on top of the situation, and by that I mean eradication, and go back to normal. Ireland had the opportunity when case numbers were low but didn’t do all the steps necessary, and I fear it’s too late now and the vaccine if the only hope. Australia provided the blueprint, we didn’t follow it.
@Kieran Hayes: Even grow a fuc kn mans beard.
@mark connolly: of course those so called experts you to about
- don’t have any relevant qualifications in the relevant fields.
- don’t work for WHO, CDC etc
But, they don’t make YouTube videos and post on twi8. They also hang out with people who think 5g caused this.
Clearly they are smart!
@Barry Somers: Barry, I would normally try to be polite, but you are probably the biggest rick with a P i’ve come across on these interactive white boards..
@Barry Somers: And in addition, who decided that you had to have some ‘expert’ degree to comment on here, I’m sure you do not have one, stop being a ‘village i d i o t/ C L Ow n and contribute something positive or destructive but with some tuned in cop on..
@mark connolly: “there is talk in certain circles that pubs will be closed until August ” is there? What circles would those be? WhatsApp messages? And you say “other approaches are worth a look”. Do you not think that all approaches have been looked at and discussed? Before Christmas Ireland had the lowest infection rate in the EU and has been consistently at that level since the whole thing started. The government relaxed things over Christmas, tried trusting the public, and look how that worked out!
What do you think we should be doing? What do these so called experts you’ve been reading about suggest we should be doing differently?
@Barry Somers: Dr David Nabarro said, “We in the World Health Organization do not advocate lockdowns as the primary means of control of this virus.”
Ireland seem to be using it as the primary means of control which is against WHO thinking.
@mark connolly: Tell that to the families of the people who have died.. .
@mark connolly: What other approaches you keep saying “other” without saying what they are, can ylu provide examples…
@Dave: who have died due to impact of three lockdowns? I’d say they would agree with him.
@mark connolly: what are they?
@Dave: I kept asking that same question to another commenter yesterday. Eventually all I got was “open up society and live with the virus”. Even at this stage there are a few out there that just don’t get it.
@mark connolly: Ivor Cummins?? Have you actually read up about that chap, you may as well cite Mystic Meg as a source. People like you are so thick, you’re genuinely dangerous. Dunning Kruger syndrome in full swing.
@mark connolly: these lockdowns wouldn’t have been necessary if PEOPLE listened back in the beginning. In general the human race are i d i o t s.
@O Swetenham: First of all ive yet to see anyone that has proven his work wrong. Happy to look at it. There are other sources like the great barrington agreement that has been signed by experts (and hasn’t been debunked) the very fact that i get toxic replies like yours for suggesting alternative approaches says a lot. I don’t keep every source in my head or handy as like everyone i read many different articles a day.
If im wrong show me where im wrong. The act that you simply go into attack mode tell me all i need to know
@mark connolly: is one of those experts Jim Corr? Lol
@Paul Whitehead: Jim Corr is not an expert. Can’t believe you consider him an expert. Lol
@mark connolly: Pubs are not priority!
But open schools Thursday? What is it with this country that we like to defy logic after learning lessons twice over the past 10 months? If we are opening schools in six days we may as well open everything!
@Ciaran McCann: it’s called prioritising services. Don’t think it’s that hard to comprehend
@Ciaran McCann:Ciaran, really? what is wrong with you that you can not see this totally right and correct..
Just before Xmas i saw people posting on social media, things like it’s Xmas, I will celebrate, I will meet my friends and family and so on. Look at where we are now. Now some people are kicking up they can’t go on a, session paddy’s day.
Do people really care??? It’s usually an absolute mess of a day!
@Jonnie Marre: yes, we should just work and buy shxt off Amazon we already have, why celebrate anything in life.
@John Egan: nobody’s stopping you celebrating the day.
How well he is able to make that decision, but yet he will wait and see about his own paddys day plans to America! Ffs will we ever learn?
@Victoria: I bet he’ll end up going. Nothing going on here but he’ll enjoy himself in New York.
@paul mccoy: i think you are probably correct, and it will all be in the name of ” essential diplomatic work” why are these yahoos still being voted in!! Surely the decision for his own plans should have been curtailed before ours were!
@Victoria: because you’ll have direct access to the President of the US on behalf of Ireland I suppose.
@paul mccoy: The Whitehouse is in Washington DC, not NYC.
wow….another lightening deduction from the Mehole The MASTERMIND……plenty of things won’t happen and that covid passport BS won’t happen either…..
This has to be fake news, because Leo is first with the news,
I remember seeing the film Groundhog Day years back and wondering is that possible, and lo and behold, its true.
Ffs. Is Steak and Blowjob day going ahead?!?! TELL US NOW!!
Bring back Arthur’s Day. We should be all vaccinated and raring to go by September!
@Handsome McWonderful: September is almost realistic.
But we’ll See you in school Thursday though.
@Labhrás Hayden: we heard you the first time…
St Pats day could be a thing of the past. Lockdowns a constant thing of the future.
@Michael Maher: Nah. Its a pandemic, but it’ll pass. It would be almost completely gone if adults could just fkin stay apart for a few weeks.
This year is cancelled a month at a time.
So long as they show ‘The Quiet Man’, ‘Darby O’Gill And The Little People’ and ‘Flight Of The Doves’ shur we’ll be grand for our annual dose of Paddywhackery begob ‘n begorrah I says to meself! Or if you feel that’s not enough you could always watch ‘The Magical Legend Of The Leprechauns’ which stars Colm Meaney as Seamus Muldoon, a Leprechaun. It has to be seen to be believed…
Everyone please stay at home but open the schools to 16000 Thursday.
@ John brett: keep the schools closed. They are major spreaders
@Mal Swan: You doing your own testing outside schools? Fair play to ya, any chance you would share the results, good man.
@Mal Swan: where do you get your major spreader stats from?whilst I agree for the greater good they should remain closed,even though i worry about my 8 year old not having any interaction with his own age I just don’t get this super spreader tag line. Ultimately group settings increase risk but if the schools were the only ones to open eventually when numbers level out and are managed correctly then I think it’s a worthwhile risk due to the actual facts that NPHET have given.
Yet he wants to go to the US for patricks day
St Pats day could be a thing of the past.
@Michael Maher: st patrick’s day is still happening !
@bmul: Pattys day is off?
@Gavin Tobin: thats worse calling its Patty’s day ffs. Thats brit talk
@bmul: No parade = no St Patrick’s day
@cork rebel: nah it’s yank talk
@Gavin Tobin: Good.
@cork rebel: Patty’s is yank talk
@Lager Lout: so Paddy’s day was in the US first ? They had the first parade .
All of a sudden a very slow year seems to have flew.
He’s right.
Paddys day is a joke. Give it to the rest of the world and run from it. Paddywhackery Shoyt.
Jeez I never seen that coming, I may pack away my tricolour and green wig so
@Bennett28: a bit of a shock alright, had the green suit dry cleaned & ready for road
Ah no way I was looking forward to Irish dancers in roscommen jerseys and backwards baseball hats dancing tapping to snoop dog …..
The longer they wait on the leaving cert to make a definite call, the more upset they cause for the students waiting to know what kind of pressure they are under. Make a call now and stick with it. Don’t leave them hanging!
well teashock the virus wont be here for Paddys just like it wasn’t here for xmas
The cases which caused this peak was due to gatherings around Christmas ? Christmas is long gone now so we can hardly blame the number of cases due to this ?
Open ya eyes ffs!
The most obvious headline this year.
Easter will also be cancelled.
Summer holidays will be within 50km.
Awe poor mehole wont get to go see sleepy Joe Biden. Lol…
So the alcoholics annual day out is cancelled again great news for greedy publicans especially in dublin.the annual alcoholics day out should be now cancelled 4 good
@liam ward60: That comment makes zero sense. I would doubt alcoholics have just one day per year where they go on a session.
If we vaccinated people we could return to normal but unfortunately the Real EU countries need the vaccines for themselves.
@Bramley Hawthorne: cop yourself on with that BS.
@Bramley Hawthorne: higher percentage vaccinated here than any other EU country
No tirp to see Joe this year.
But yet mehole wants to go to America for it mmmmmmmmmm.
No surprise there. Of course there won’t be, Hard to believe the way things are going that any sane person thought otherwise.
Glad I got my session in at Christmas. Gonna be awhile before the next one.
@Sal Paradise: ah sure maybe you & your pals killed a few people along the way but at least you had your sesh!
@Hotirish: Maybe we did, maybe we didn’t. Maybe you killed a few people as you loitered in the aisle in the supermarket trying to decide which essential bottle of wine to buy or which bar of chocolate to treat yourself with. I hope you can sleep at night. Murderer!!
@Sal Paradise: huh????
@Sal Paradise: Donkey
@Dixieblue: Horse
So that’s the junket for all the ministers down the swanny
As soon as you allow government to close your business and turn off your life you allowed them to take your freedom forever. Enjoy.
@Chaunce Hayden: grow up you tool
Bla bla bla
it was interesting that he could say no parade on St. Patricks Day, yet he didnt rule out he himself travelling to the US and members of his cabal swanning round the world at taxpayers expence. “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Surely the leaving cert cannot go ahead, correct me if I am wrong they’ll have missed more face to face teaching than last years students, I know they are doing online teaching but that can be hit and miss depending on the teacher and how tech savvy they are.
horrayy another year free of drunks and Oirish Americans
In my opinion it’s a good idea because it’s too risky for now and the amount of people that go to the event is insane.
I respect the decision made because with no parade we can hopefully get out of this situation faster
Bring back Arthurs Day then!
I think we should ban the celebration of all fairy stories.
Leo will announce they’re back on next week.
I bet Joe Biden has his green corduroy suit and green nylon wig ready. Go Joe!
No surprise there as we will still be in lockdown
In my opinion it’s a good idea because it’s too risky for now and the amount of people that go to the event is insane.
I respect the decision made because with no parade we can hopefully get out of this situation faster
St Patrick gone ,who the hell is going to banish the snake now
I hope he doesn’t intend in going to the USA in March
I hope he doesn’t intend in going to the USA in March
Should have cancelled Christmas!
I hope he doesn’t intend in going to the USA in March
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