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Leo Varadkar with Irish ambassador to the US Dan Mulhall Niall Carson

Ireland's Ambassador to the US says 'cool heads and trust in science' is needed to combat coronavirus

The ambassador was addressing Irish and American businesses in Washington DC today.

Christina Finn reporting from Washington DC

IRELAND’S AMBASSADOR TO the US has warned that panic will not aid the fight against the coronavirus.

Speaking at the Team Ireland lunch in Washington DC today, he said combating the coronavirus “requires cools head, trust in science… sound, evidence-based policy and international co-operation”.

He told a room full of Irish and American business people that the coronavirus is something to fear, but said there shouldn’t be panic. He quoted US President Roosevelt: “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.”

Mulhall said Ireland being an open economy is vital to its prosperity.

“And while the coronavirus response will enforce short-term restrictions. We’re committed to keeping our doors open,” he said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was due to attend the event this afternoon, however due to his St Patrick’s Day trip being curtailed this week, his first engagement will be this evening at the Ireland Funds Gala.

The event takes place against the backdrop of the spread of the virus worldwide, with Ireland’s first death associated with the virus confirmed today.

Tourism Ireland’s Niall Gibbons said the situation is “very serious”. 

The US situation is being assessed on a daily basis, he said, stating that some airlines reducing its fleet to mainland Europe by 20% will have an impact.

“These are really serious decisions being made,” he said.

He said small and medium enterprises have seen a “dramatic fall” in demand. Tourism Ireland has a “recovery plan” ready to go, said Gibbons, but he said now is obviously not the time to roll that out.

“I don’t think it is appropriate to be out in the market right now with a message of ‘come to Ireland’ in your face. We have scaled back all our paid marketing activity for the foreseeable future,” he said.

“I have been through every crises the industry has thrown at me over the last 18 years – what is different about this one is the public fear aspect to it, which is preventing people from flying,” said Gibbons, who added that people are also afraid about being quarantined in another country.

‘We will emerge from this’

“We will emerge from this, tourism will come back, people will travel again, but I think it is the uncertainty, he said.

Mulhall said that while the coronavirus response will enforce short-term restrictions, Ireland is “committed to keeping our doors open”.

“One of the most notable features of our recent general election was the complete absence of support for any party that was hostile to immigration There is simply no purchase in the public space for anti-immigrant sentiments or anti-European Union sentiments, which you find in other parts.

He said the 100,000 welcomes “is more than a traditional greeting. It’s a national creed”.

“Whatever else may change in the months and years ahead. I am confident that our open welcoming attitude will endure,” he said.

Contingency planning 

With businesses grappling to deal with the contingency planning, Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon said agency’s Brexit planning has proven very useful in the context of the coronavirus.

“It’s about planning and have a continuity plan for your business,” she said today.

She added that one of the biggest hits that companies have dealt with so far is the impact on their supply chains. 

CEO of the IDA Martin Shanahan said they have observed a slow down in investment, stating that decisions are being stalled as business focus on contingency planning and the restrictions with travel.

“It is still evolving, on a daily-basis we are engaging with companies,” he said, adding that working at home is not a possibility for all companies, such as manufacturing plants.

He said it was too soon to tell what the monetary impact on the Irish economy will be, stating that his sense is that investment decisions have been postponed or delayed, but not lost.

“That isn’t to say that the level of global investments… won’t be impacted by this, I mean I think it’s highly likely at this point that we’re going to see global growth impacted,” he said.

Prof. Mark Ferguson from Science Foundation Ireland was also at today’s event in Washington DC. 

He said the science of working on a vaccine for coronavirus is moving a lot faster than with Ebola, stating that there has never been more international collaboration to address a virus crisis,with countries like China, the United States and Europe all sharing information.

“The coronavirus is no match for international science, the real question is when.”

During his speech, Mulhall also took aim at US President Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed on EU goods, including Irish goods.

“The Irish butter on your bread, the Irish cream liquor you’ll enjoy later now costs more,” he said.

“But we’re prepared to bear the extra cost. It hurts our consumers and our stocks, we hope that current talks between our EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan will negotiate a resolution,” he said.

TheJournal.ie’s Political Correspondent Christina Finn will be bringing you all the latest updates from Leo Varadkar’s visit to Washington DC this week, including his meeting with US President Donald Trump tomorrow.

Stay up-to-date by following @christinafinn8@TJ_Politics  and TheJournal.ie’s Facebook page

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53 Comments
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    Mute David Dunne
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:34 PM

    We have family living in Ukraine, A population of 47 million , and one Confirmed case : They have closed all schools , and all public events.
    No social events over 200 hundred people .
    That’s a government showing leadership.

    174
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    Mute Daimhín De Naois
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:59 PM

    @David Dunne: yes! Ours will be pulled kicking and screaming and most likely the EU will make the calls for them in the end

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    Mute Paul Quirke
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:18 PM

    @David Dunne: great example

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    Mute Toon Army
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:44 PM

    @David Dunne: Great point. Although be prepared for a HSE apologist to come on shortly and call you a keyboard warrior.

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    Mute Sean O' Donovan
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    Mar 11th 2020, 11:11 PM

    @Toon Army: Not to mention something about tinfoil, “experts” (not taking expert advice) and all the millions of tests being performed daily.

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    Mute Syl Farrell
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    Mar 11th 2020, 11:23 PM

    @David Dunne: so how long do they plan to close the schools for? Months?

    6
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    Mute Niall Lonergan
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    Mar 12th 2020, 12:16 AM

    @David Dunne: They also have widespread swine flu and poverty.

    5
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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Mar 12th 2020, 12:56 AM

    @Niall Lonergan: What?!
    Do you know what xenophobia is?

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    Mute bmul
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:59 PM

    His boss doesn’t believe in science

    96
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:10 PM

    @bmul: Hes the Irish ambassador to the US, He works for us.

    57
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    Mute Damian Moylan
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:24 PM

    @bmul: Bull, Leo is a qualified Doctor.

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    Mute Pád
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:00 PM

    @Bobby wilson: You are only aiding to mass hysteria

    9
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    Mute Al Fresco
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    Mar 11th 2020, 11:20 PM

    @Damian Moylan: Leo is more of the “ spin doctor “ persuasion.

    8
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    Mute
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    Mar 12th 2020, 8:27 AM

    @Damian Moylan:

    Honestly, the fact that he qualified as a doctor makes me question whether our system is choosing the right people for the right professions

    1
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    Mute Philip King ⚡️
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:11 PM

    STOP TRAVELLING!!!

    Almost every case associated with recent travel.

    101
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    Mute Toon Army
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:04 PM

    We need rapid containment measures now to halt the spread. Harris and Co seem to have learnt nothing from the Italy and indeed Global situation. Excellent piece below explains the relationship between actual and reported view and how we could 10x + improve mortality rate through an earlier intervention on preventing spread. Please take action now https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:28 PM

    @Toon Army:

    Since when was Tomas Pueyo an expert? He doesn’t have a clue.

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    Mute Daimhín De Naois
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:57 PM

    @Just Some Guy: he doesn’t need to be, very recent history has shown us we need to shut it down or else we invite it at our detriment. When we then, eventually, do shut it down it will be at a much much greater cost! A cost we already cant afford with our current health system. Its the only logical thing to do when taking recent events globally into account.

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    Mute Toon Army
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:15 PM

    @Just Some Guy: what part of his analysis didn’t make sense?

    8
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    Mute Kate Flaherty
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:06 PM

    Social distancing is a term being used a lot, this is like a huge human experiment, reflecting on all that has happened since early January and especially sadly today as someone dies lessons have to be learned with regard to wet markets in Asia, I don’t know if this thing came from a lab in Wuhan or a wet market but one thing’s for sure nothing good could come out of them.

    56
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:04 PM

    @Kate Flaherty: it’s a virus that crossed species, it happens, that what they do. The wet market was the epicentre of the virus spreading , it is unclear how exactly but it is not necessarily the reason the viruses cross species it happens all the time. HIV , BSE, Ebola and swine flu birdflu are all viruses that have crossed species and been a serious threat to humans.

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    Mute Kate Flaherty
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:10 PM

    @LittleBee: those wet markets are totally unregulated and they couldn’t possibly be helping matters, covid 19 today, what will it be tomorrow?, I watched a bbc report, they went in undercover, I had seen other far more disturbing reports but this particular one stayed with me because of a little fennick fox, that’s without mentioning the dogs, exotic cats, monkeys of every breed, snakes, you name it, they had it, mostly for human consumption, being slaughtered there and then with absolutely no regard for health and hygiene or anything else for that matter!..

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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 11th 2020, 11:18 PM

    @Kate Flaherty: how long have humans been around for thousands of years? How long has the processing of food and pumping animals full of antibiotics been around for maybe a hundred at best? I’m not disputing the hygiene standards and food consumption may not be to the same standard as ours but like I said, viruses cross species it’s what they do. Not every country in the world has the luxury of popping to Tescos for a prepackaged chicken or minced meat thats been pumped full of antibiotics since birth.

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    Mute Agenda21
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    Mar 12th 2020, 5:23 AM

    @LittleBee: what’s your point, it’s here now we don’t need to soak up other peeps googleogue shizer

    4
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    Mute ernest simon
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:09 PM

    600 Deaths in Italy last 10 days . Acceleration mode . The virus is among us. Yet life goes on as usual Mr Varadkar let wait 2 weeks and more infections

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    Mute Luther Cooper
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:12 PM

    He hasnt a clue

    46
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    Mute Wendy H
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:16 PM

    China has been sharing information 24/7 since late January but did you ever read it? Do any English language media ever report China’s efforts and experience objectively? No. Governments all just sat there, watched and thought it’s China’s problem.

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    Mute Kate Flaherty
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:26 PM

    @Wendy H: The Chinese authorities lied and heavily censored information, they disciplined and heavily criticised anyone trying to make people aware of what was going on.

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    Mute Barry
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:28 PM

    @Wendy H: China was selectively sharing information when it suited, lets not forget this actually started at the very start of December in China so them reporting it in LATE January means they were late to the party.

    To stop it they had to lock down millions of people and stop manufacturing and industry in these areas.

    As for Europe, the first cases were reported in the likes of Italy at the very end of January, so given China only started sharing info in late January (your words, not mine) this means they were only telling the world after they allowed it to spread after 8 weeks of dealing with it. Not great management of it.

    I wouldn’t be holding up China has some hero in this when at the same time they were busy threatening doctors for reporting on the outbreak because the reports painted china in a bad light.

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    Mute Damian Moylan
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:29 PM

    @Wendy H: There’s a bit of truth in that….hmmm

    3
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    Mute FrontSeatDriver
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:31 PM

    @Wendy H: the Chinese are amazing. If everyone followed their lead we’d crack this pandemic rather than the passive approach taken over here

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    Mute Paul Darby
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:32 PM

    @Wendy H: no they didn’t, they refused help from virus experts in the west and tried to cover it up. Taiwan is the country that dealt with it well, they know not to trust the Chinese government. Banning all flights from Wuhan, only allowing their people in from other cities in China before complete ban. “What Taiwan can teach the world on fighting the coronavirus” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1153826

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    Mute Wendy H
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:43 PM

    @Paul Darby: They didn’t refuse any help. During the outbreak they accepted all the help offered. They publicised all the 77 countries/governments who helped them and donated all kinds of resources during the outbreak. Xi personally wrote a thank you letter to Bill Gates who donated $$ to China and world for the Covid-19 research. But there’re some politicians like Mr Trump who helped literally NOTHING but setting roadblocks to the Chinese. Please get all the facts right.

    8
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    Mute Kate Flaherty
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:46 PM

    @Wendy H: They Chinese authorities lied and as a result people suffered unnecessarily, people were reporting this in Wuhan as early as November and the authorities tried to shut them up!

    9
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    Mute Wendy H
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:51 PM

    @Kate Flaherty: 8th December 2019 first case confirmed and back then there was no testing kit no precedent research no references to this novel virus. Tell me how did you figure November? Stick to the facts please.

    6
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    Mute Kate Flaherty
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:55 PM

    @Wendy H: As early as mid November according to the doctor who died and others, people were sitting in er’s in Wuhan all complaining with respiratory problems and most being diagnosed with pneumonia.

    10
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    Mute XvSv
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:55 PM

    @Barry: NOT true !

    WHO in conjunction with China announced what initially referred to in early days as Wuhan Virus or Wuhan Pneumonia Virus. The Taiwan Government kicked their virus protection plan into action within 48 hrs …..

    Since then even though China is their biggest a trading Partner …Taiwan initially started screening all flights from China ..within 5 days they suspended all flights from Wuhan …and they gradually suspended flights from other Chinese cities as they were quarantined and by Jan 23rd they suspended All flights from China…. and in parallel did same with South Korea and other hotspots

    To date even though they are next door to China , they so far limited their cases to 48 cases and 1 death …with pop of 23M … world class response from an Island Nation !!

    16
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    Mute XvSv
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:58 PM

    @XvSv: WHO announced it officially on 31st Dec 2019 …. unofficially it flagged at least a week earlier .. first case started appearing 15 th of December in Wuhan….

    3
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    Mute Wendy H
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:04 PM

    @Kate Flaherty: I presume you meant Doctor Li Wenliang? He told his colleagues on their work group on December 30th for the first time that there had been a few suspicious SARS like cases in the hospital. So Again where did you get the “November” from? Please stick with the facts.?

    6
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    Mute Wendy H
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:09 PM

    @Kate Flaherty: And after all what’s the lesson learned from Wuhan? Delayed response and inaction of governments should be avoided, correct? But everyone just sat and watched until the virus reached our own shores and still Leo is out and about meeting Trump the biggest denier of the severity of the disease?? C’mon…

    10
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    Mute Lochlainn Marcus
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:31 PM

    Containment is key! We never learn in this country!

    34
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    Mute Ursula
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:04 PM

    Oh my goodness what in the name of the Lord is our Taoiseach doing meeting Mr Trump who has refused to be tested for Covid 19 in spite of him being in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the virus

    30
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    Mute Al Fresco
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:53 PM

    @Ursula: that wouldn’t occur to Leo, he will be thinking, “ omg, I’m meeting the Pres. ofAmerica today, what crazy socks will I wear?”

    20
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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:13 PM

    Talking about trust in science, anyone hear of Gemma O’D lately?

    Will she accept a Covid19 vaccine from Big Pharma?

    20
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    Mute Barry
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:15 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: no doubt she thinks big pharma created this or its some sort of population control by the lizard people

    23
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    Mute DJ François
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:16 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: her latest nonsense is claiming 5G is spreading it

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    Mute Barry
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:29 PM

    @DJ François: but yet it exists in countrys and areas with no 5G networks, amazing that

    11
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:05 PM

    I’ll be curious to see the reaction of the antivaxers five vaccine is produced while this is still rampant.

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    Mute John B
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:53 PM

    Wonder what salary this genius is on?

    9
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    Mute johnbrady
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:23 PM

    If we all just pray then jesus will help us

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    Mute Michael Byrne
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    Mar 11th 2020, 10:20 PM

    Idiot states that “ were committed to keeping our doors open” says it fcking all, money before people.

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    Mute Anna69ii
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    Mar 12th 2020, 5:02 PM

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    Mute Alan Murphy
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    Mar 12th 2020, 1:08 AM

    Dan Mulhall sent my dad a Facebook friend request the other day weirdly!

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