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TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has tonight highlighted difficulties in the domestic use of so-called ‘green cert’ or vaccine bonus to access any services, such as pubs and restaurants.
Citing civil liberties issues, he told his parliamentary party meeting that it is likely it will only be used for overseas travel.
Speaking at the Fianna Fáil meeting, he said a policy group in his department is examining the issue, as well as in an EU context.
Such an approach would follow in the footsteps of the UK which does not require such a cert for outdoor dining or non essential retail.
Earlier this month, Denmark began requiring people to use a new Covid-19 certificate to enter certain businesses or face fines, becoming one of the first European countries to do so.
The European Parliament is set to vote tomorrow on the proposal for Digital Green Certificates– also known as Covid passports.
The aim of Digital Green Certificates is to allow the return of free movement of people around Europe this summer – by proving that a person has either been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, has a negative test result, or has recovered from Covid-19.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had suggested that there could be greater freedoms afforded to those who are fully vaccinated, and that separate to travel, a version of this could be rolled out to allow for distanced gatherings indoors at pubs, restaurants, or other venues.
It is understood that vaccine passports or ‘green certs’ were under consideration at government level when it came to reopening hospitality.
However, sources were quick to point out last month that it could be the case of there being multiple options available – such as someone having a vaccination cert, or someone having to present a negative antigen test – for people that are not vaccinated.
Pádraig Cribben of the Vintners Federation of Ireland previously told The Journal that when this issue of Covid passports was discussed with the Government “some time ago”, the impression they got was that “it would be a major investment for a very short input and it wasn’t worth being pursued”.
Fianna Fáil politicians tonight told the Taoiseach that the ban on inter-country travel should be lifted and that the early return for indoor and outdoor dining should be considered.
The party backed a motion that called for outdoor space availability to determine numbers allowed, and not some arbitrary capped number, as well as a roadmap for larger hotel events like weddings to be established.
Micheál Martin said domestic tourism will likely return in June, telling members that he had heard their the calls for the equal treatment between gastro and traditional pubs – signalling that there will be no disparity between pubs that serve food and those that do not.
A number of TDs and senators said tonight, that once again, the public is ahead of government, and already not adhering to the restrictions.
The meeting heard from speakers who said that the government needed to “give a little and trust people”, stating that businesses will do things right for the most part.
The meeting was told that not only was inter county travel important for domestic tourism, but also on a human level to allow people to visit their family.
Members said the hospitality sector can provide safe spaces to socialise and they can also take details for contact tracing.
The Taoiseach was told that outdoors seems to be safe and was asked what’s the evidence to support staying closed.
Dublin Bay South TD Jim O’Callaghan is understood to have raised the issue of large crowds at weekend in Portobello and along the canal, where there are no toilets.
Senator Lisa Chambers is understood to have told the Taoiseach that given that people are already meeting up in large numbers and socialising, eating and drinking together, it makes sense to allow controlled spaces to reopen.
It is understood that some TDs believe that once outdoor dining reopens in the North, it will present a problem, with some people traveling to beer gardens over the border, despite the travel restrictions.
Restaurants and pubs have called for outdoor dining to be permitted on 24 May, which would coincide with the reopening of indoor dining in Northern Ireland.
Martin is believed to have responded to his party members by stating the strategy so far is working, with the numbers across the board falling.
He said that motions on particular sectors at a parlimentary party meeting is not the best way to deal with such matters.
The government will this week give a detailed statement on what areas of society can open in May and June.
On Thursday, Martin said religious services, sport and outdoor training for over 18s will be considered, stating that the government is very conscious about the wellbeing of young people.
“We are also looking at reopening museums, galleries and libraries also personal services such as hairdressers and barbers,” he said, stating that click and collect and non essential retail will also be considered.
He indicated that June will see hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, self catering and mobile homes allowed to reopen.
He repeated what he said at an Oireachtas Committee today that there will be no cliff edge on supports.
“We want to reboot and support sectors with the national recovery plan.We are in a good position and better than anticipated and modelled at the end of March,” he said.
Speaking about the vaccine rollout, he said:
“I’ve registered myself and looking forward to it. We will start the under 60s for registration as we get though the over 60 cohort.”
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This is the same OECD that 2 years ago told Europe we had to get used to ” a permanently lower standard of living” now suddenly it’s all roses? They are all over the place
Don’t be confused lads this is what they call a ”jobless recovery”, the ‘recovery’ is in the stock market and share prices, not your wallet.
Don’t be confused lads this is what they call a ”jobless recovery”, the ‘recovery’ is in the stock market and share prices, not your wallet.”
Well said – all they are interested in is what they call the ” Economy ” – which will have little impact on the people – and the ever growing Rich / Poor divide .
they are claiming a recovery and growth in UK – and in US to some extent – but they do not care about unemployed people – or wages etc . I n fact mist governments now are trying to please the people who really rule us – and provide them with low wages – and no trade Unions .
Well with a month left to budget 2013, 3.5million will be took from taxes and cuts, and not forgetting price hikes in fuel etc coupled with stealth taxes will dry up the last bit of household and consumer spending which will stop that growth.
3.5 million? I wish pal lol
Be between 2-3 billion, I doubt very much it will be at 3 – 3.5 billion though. Maybe €2.5 billion.
What growth??? Are the OECD deluded as well? We are STILL in recession. There needs to be a serious relaxation on the aul austerity if any sort of meaningful growth is to be established otherwise we are in for 10 years of stagnation and high unemployment.
Five years down already so half way there… Keep the faith lad, keep the faith hahaha
Ian they people that run our society and i mean the real rulers the financial houses do not care about you or me only they want it all.
It’s not clear whether we’re still in recession or not. Data for the second quarter of 2013 (April-June) won’t be available until next week.
One area we can make a big saving – unemployment benefit for non-EU nationals.
Scrap all of them and replace with something called ‘Start-up Aid’.
It gives 500 euros a month for 12 months to people as a leg-up. After a year, no more money.
If you’re in work, then no bother. If not, sorry we cannot afford it.
In Galway City and County a staggering 67% (two out of three) non-EU nationals are on the dole and have been for more than two years. They are unlikely to find work soon, if ever.
It will save the State about 1.4 billion euros a year.
There’s your water rates, there’s your property tax.
Plus a lot left over to start jobs creation.
Denmark did it in 2009 to slow down the rate of economic migration.
It did – by 85%. Only the highly skilled and educated migrate there now. A lesson for us.
I did propose this to Joan Burton several months ago and got this reply.
“Dear Mr. Conway
Minister Joan Burton T.D., has asked me to acknowledge your recent e-mail. The contents of which have been noted.
Yours sincerely
Jacinta Crawford
Private Secretary”
In other words, the ‘claimants party’ didn’t want to know.
However, can can still make the Dail listen. Let your TD know.
So what if the non-eu national has been living here for years and paying their PAYE and PRSI like everybody else? It wasn’t immigration that screwed this country up. Also, trying to stop immigration into Ireland stinks of hypocrisy when one of the main controlling factors that’s stopping our unemployment rising above 14% is emigration.
@ Declan: Do you have a source for those stats for Galway Live Register?
Not really. Ireland doesn’t have a functional immigration policy (unlike all those other countries to which Irish people are emigrating). There is no shame in creating one and enforcing it. Nor is it racist, as some seem to believe. In fact, the current polcy IS pretty shameful as it can leave people in limbo for years not knowing what their future is.
AFAIK you can only get social insurance if you’ve been working here for 6 months as an EU and 2 years as a non EU national and in that case they paid into the system like everyone else so they should be allowed acess it.
Don’t delude yourself into thinking we have esp lavish social services we really don’t, compared to the rest of Europe ours are where most EU states were in the early 20th century.
Censored, what exactly is ‘dysfunctional’ about our immigration policy? Please elaborate because if you’re going to make a claim like that you have to back it up.
No I don’t, you are not that stupid.
..if Government can reduce the debt to 60% of GDP by 2030?….I think we need a bigger boat
things are getting better – but even the report admits
” the report noted that “unemployment remains high, emigration has resumed, and poverty has increased, adding to heavy debts and financial distress”.
– how is this recovery ??
But things will be better in 2030 – presumably – that date is a moveable feast.
This is just PR BS – to try to get us to accept more and more cuts . the people who made the biggest errors – the casino bankers have literally gotten away with robbery .
also some wont be around in 2030 – who knows who will be – so what are they paying for .
FOr the usual lucky and connected things are only great , for those propping them up things are not like that at all.
Basically, the speculators and bullshit artists are back on form. Recovery? Don’t make me laugh.
The picture for this article is great, like getting on a plane…..the super wealthy will turn left and the rest of us to the right……
There saying it’s working so we will keep paying up.
Sure when did an Irish government ever listen to the OECD?
Can we be sure that the OECD did their sums right this time? Did they check them twice?
have your say