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STAYCATIONS IN IRELAND “will be possible this summer”, according to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said earlier this week that is “not realistic” to expect the coming summer to be characterised by people flying to other parts of the world on holiday.
“I don’t think we’re heading for a summer where millions of people from this part of the world can head to the beaches, other than the beaches in their own localities,” the CMO added.
Asked about Holohan’s reference to people going to beaches within their localities, Varadkar said:
“I do anticipate this summer that it will be possible for people to holiday within Ireland, to be able to go Kerry, Mayo, Waterford or wherever they want to go, or even Dublin, if they wish. So I think that will be possible this summer.”
In an interview with TheJournal.ie, the Fine Gael leader also discussed the government’s plans to extend the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the wage subsidy scheme into the summer, as well as his hopes that people will be able to meet up with friends and family come March.
The lifting of the strict Covid measures will be contingent on the level of the virus heading into summer months, the average case numbers and the progress of the vaccine roll out, he said.
“I think a home holiday in the way people had them last year will be possible this summer. Obviously international travel will be very difficult, much more difficult than it was last summer, unfortunately.
“I love travel, I love going abroad, I love my sun holiday, I love the beach, I love the warm sea, I’d be the first on that plane if I thought it was safe to do so, but unfortunately it’s not.”
Easing restrictions
When asked what hope there is of an easing of restrictions this spring, Varadkar said the government will be cautious. He confirmed that he told his parliamentary party last week that the country is set to move to Level 4 restrictions (or Level 4 with modifications) after 5 March.
He was quick to point out that he did not indicate that restaurants would be open for outdoor dining next month, even though limited outdoor dining is allowed under Level 4 according to the government’s own website. As a result some in the restaurant business said the Tánaiste’s reported comments had given false hope.
That’s not going to happen, he said. “I don’t think so. Not outdoor dining.”
The Tánaiste said however that allowing people to meet outdoors “is something I really want to be possible in March”.
“I’m the Minister for business and employment, my main job is to is to save businesses, get them open and get people back to work. But I also care about people’s mental health.
“So many people haven’t been able to see family and friends – assuming they’re complying with the rules, of course – they haven’t been able to see family and friends in person for a very long time. By March, we’ll be getting into a third month of that.
“So when we reopened after the first wave, one of the first things we did was allow people to meet up with another house outdoors, not indoors initially, but outdoors. And I think maybe in March, that’d be something that I think it’d be nice to be able to do.”
Getting schools and construction reopened is also one of the government’s main priorities for February and March.
“The phased return to school I think has to be the number one priority for reasons I don’t need to explain to your listeners and your readers. And the reopening of the aspects of construction that are now closed.
“So building houses, for example, people want to buy, that’s important, and it’s a largely, outdoor, safe profession.
“They’re the kind of things I think people will see… Can we go to Level 4 or Level 4 modifications in the 5 March? I can’t say that at this stage, that’s not possible to say,” he said, adding that it is all contingent on getting the numbers of cases and hospitalisations low.
“Let’s try to get the cases as low as possible, the lower we get them, then the longer we can stay open. And the more time we buy in terms of giving people vaccines.
“But I also think we need to be realistic, you know, we are in Europe, we are at the epicentre of the pandemic, we do have a land border with Northern Ireland, it might be the case that we get to a certain point where the number of cases plateau.
“It’s interesting and good that people are talking about getting to zero or getting to near zero, we just don’t know how low we possibly can go. Countries that have successfully got to zero didn’t have thousands of cases a day in the first place. We’re seeing across Europe countries that went into lockdown before us, getting to a point below which they find very hard to go lower, but we are going to try and get as low as we can.”
A number of scientist, academics and some Opposition parties are calling for the government to pursue a “zero-Covid” approach, which would involve seeking to completely eliminate the virus.
Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, Professor Philip Nolan has said that it would be a “false promise” to say that measures could be put in place now to safely lead to a move to Level One or “Zero” on the restrictions framework in a matter of months. Meanwhile, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was not a “sustainable” policy for Ireland.
Draconian measures and strict restrictions
Yesterday in the Dáil, the Taoiseach said the government had had to impose some of the most draconian measures on its citizens in the history of the State.
The Tánaiste said it is easier to bring in restrictions than it is to unfurl them, but that is something the government aims to do. Right now, he said stricter restrictions are necessary, and there might be more to come.
“I’m somebody who believes in in personal freedoms and civil liberties. I’ve never particularly liked the fact that we’ve had to impose these restrictions on people. And you remember back in the first wave [...] very little of what we did was mandatory and backed up by the law. And I haven’t liked the fact that we have gotten into the space where we’ve had to do that. But we have to do that.
“Because in the early stage of the pandemic, it was easier to get the country on board, to get everyone to comply. But when this has been going on for the best part of a year now, it becomes much harder. And that’s why we’ve had to underpin a lot of the advice and regulations in law. And I think we’re going to have to do more of that in the period ahead.
“But I want to make really sure that once we do these things, once these things are not necessarily needed anymore, that we remove them. I’d hate one of the long term consequences of the pandemic to be an ongoing restriction on our freedoms, because it’s not who we are. It’s not not our way of life. And I’m surprised how many people in the Dáil, both from the left and right, have become authoritarian all of a sudden.”
Adding countries
It was announced last week that mandatory hotel quarantine was to be introduced for people travelling to Ireland from Brazil and South Africa due to the higher risk posed by new variants of the virus. Those without a PCR test will be required to quarantine for two weeks in a hotel.
In terms of countries that are deemed higher risk – that list is set to get longer, said Varadkar.
“At the moment, it’s Brazil and South Africa. I think you will see more countries added to that. But again, we have to confirm what they’re doing in the UK, we have to confirm what we’re doing at a European level, because we are in the European Union. We are European citizens, we do have the freedom to travel around Europe.”
Varadkar’s expectation is that some form of restrictions are going to be in place for much of the year.
“We will continue to have restrictions in place, advisory and legally enforceable restrictions, at least until we have a critical mass of the adult population vaccinated – 70% or 80% of people.
“And then if the vaccines live up to their promise, we’re then in a position to live with the virus the way we live with other viruses like the flu, for example. But that really does require reaching a high level of herd immunity. And the only safe way to do that is through vaccinations.”
Extension of PUP and wage subsidy
And when restrictions are lifted, what will the fallout be for the economy?
“We will try to avoid austerity. But of course, you know, once this pandemic does end, there will be a gap between what we’re spending and what we’re raising in taxes and that will have to be closed. The best way to close it in my view is through growth.”
Varadkar said he believes the economy will “bounce back very fast”. He said banks have billions of Euros on the books from people who thankfully did not lose their jobs, and that the government will be encouraging them to spend it.
For the moment the Tánaiste confirmed that talks are underway in government about extending the wage subsidy scheme, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the CRSS payment for closed businesses beyond the 31 March end date.
“We’re having discussions now in government about extending them into the second quarter of the year. The April, May, June period,” he said.
Other schemes are also in the works, to help businesses “that may have fallen between the cracks”.
New supports for tourism businesses that were not eligible for the weekly CRSS grant were announced this week, with Varadkar stating that additional supports for another group of businesses that did not qualify for CRSS - like caterers and wholesalers – will be announced “quite soon”.
“We’re examining kind of targeted things that might help people who were in the gig economy, people who were doing music gigs or weddings,” he said, adding that there will also need to be another package of supports for the aviation sector “because the summer that our airlines thought they were going to have, they will not”.
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And get ripped off by Irish Hotels like last Summer…. No thanks Leo!
@Sean Leonard: Take it easy ffs. No one is suffering like the hospitality trade at the moment.
@Vonvonic: doubled their prices when they opened last time he’s right
@Sean Leonard: I’ve stayed in a couple of places last summer and there has being no increases in 3 years so where are you getting your info from
@Jim O Brien Tech: The vast majority did no such thing. You might think that Pubs and hotels RIP people off, but for the majority, it’s them that are being ripped off. Your average family hotel in Ireland is right on the margins at the moment in this country and very few are getting rich.
@Sean Leonard: god forbid we try keep the hospitality sector from dying Sean. Now ye can always stay at home, because you’re certainly going no where else..
@Jim O Brien Tech: a bit indigenous Jim. Can you prove he’s right.?
@Paul Gorry: Indigenous??
@Robert Clifford: disingenuous. It’s the Dutch gold.
@Paul Gorry: indeed I can. I’ve travelled I do alot and have too I have my regulars.
@Jim O Brien Tech: iam sure if you have your regulars they wouldn’t overcharge you. But anyway travel away jim.
@Sean Leonard: I got great deals on hotels last year. Maybe have a good look around for yourself on different websites, before booking anything.
@talksense: Exact same, I saw no difference.
@Paul Gorry: Dutch Gold, I didn’t have that since I went bushing when I was 15 haha.
@Kevin O’Brien: or before saying anything
@Sean Leonard: book now and you’ll get free cancellation and a better price. Many people have extra savings now so spending it in Ireland is a win win.
@Sean Leonard: I don’t get you- when you don’t have to pay for flights the price of the holiday is reduced. I find a week in Kerry or Donegal cheaper than a week in Spain. Maybe you’re looking at five star hotels.
@Sean Leonard: well for you that always stays in hotels when you travel. I would use apartments in Spain and Airbnb in Ireland. Much the same price when you factor in everything. Had to cancel a house in Wexford last year due to restrictions. Lost nothing and immediately rebooked for this year with no loss. Fingers crossed we get going this year
@Jim O Brien Tech: That’s just untrue and fair play to you for sticking the boot into Irish business when they are on their knees.
@Sean Leonard: moan moan moan
@Vonvonic: except maybe aviation…
@Sean Leonard: just get a tent
@Sean Leonard: I got a great deal last summer in Donegal. Got 25% off the normal price. And the weather was cracking.
@Sean Leonard: the whole travel thing is to get us to spend at home. Nothing to do with safety. All the vulnerable and frontline staff will be vaccinated by then and the hospitals and ICU will be back to managable levels. So who not be allowed travel?
@Malachi Shanks: indeed.
@Jim O Brien Tech: On the meths Jim?
@Vonvonic: nobody hikes up prices like the hospitality industry either!!
Remember when Leo slapped downed NPHET for recommending level 5 in Oct/Nov….well we know who was right now…and many people have paid dearly…RIP.
@Cosmos20202020: I wish I’d thought to use the death and suffering of a pandemic to attack politicians I never liked anyway. Stay classy.
@Barry C: isn’t that their primary role? Too look after the best interests of ireland and its people? Id say criticism is well deserved.
@David Daly: yes. Opening up costs lives, staying closed costs other people’s lives. No easy decision in a pandemic, without the benefit of hindsight.
I personally think that lockdown will kill way more when we finally see the bill. If we can ever bring ourselves to acknowledge it. I’d hate to have to back up my belief as a policymaker, in case it is wrong.
I don’t envy politicians. The blood on their hands comments are disgusting.
@Barry C: He and Micheal Martin should be reminded of the consequences of their reckless decision making every day for the rest of their lives. So many people needlessly losing loved ones just so the two clowns could give us a so called meaningful Christmas.
@Cosmos20202020: Yeah, with cases having started to decline before Lvl 5 began it looks like Leo was right in that instance.
@David Daly: It’s a long time since any of our so called government looked after its people, it’s all about them and there boys club,holiday in ireland to be ripped of,I don’t think so,go back to sleep leaky.
@Barry C: they are the only ones in this country not suffering, they get paid ridiculous money for jobs they can’t do! Make laws and sit back letting the guards enforce them and getting abused! Any Joe soap would of done a better job!!
@Cosmos20202020: get a grip and move on. Tired of people just coming here to complain and remind us of the “bad decisions” the government has made. You all seem to be experts in the matter.
@Barry C: we are gone pass that now over 1000 dead the last few week. Varadkar and Martin have blood on their hands
@Eadaoin Cummings: the vast majority (4/5) of people in this country are not suffering, hence the billions saved in banks. Its the same half a million people who have bore the brunt of this every lockdown. Most others are better off financially as they may not have travel costs to work and can’t spend their money socializing either at the minute. So politicians are part of the majority not the minority
@tirnanog1979: Mary Lou wanted every one flying home to Ireland for Christmas when Leo said stay where you are. Mary Lou wanted the pubs open! Grow up with your sick ‘blood on hands’ comment.
@Cosmos20202020: Varadkar told no one to recklessly socialise over the festive period. Everyone knew the risks and it was their responsibility.
@Pauline Fedigan: Nothing so called about our legitimate government you anti democratic person you.
@Ed: and the opposition, they went along with all the decisions too
Costa del back garden will do me if the sun comes out.
@Mac Dara Powell: have the brolly handy though
@Mac Dara Powell: nothing better that Rome….Rome around the back garden
It’s very difficult to maintain any faith in our government to handle this situation any further. There is no clear end game or coherent plan here – the phrase ‘stay open longer’ already implies they’re planning for lockdown 4. One of not all of the government parties will be drubbed by the next election
@Ailéin Ó Gréacháin: if FF yankee doodle Martin heads to see Joe Biden I think it will go down as the biggest political blunder since FF sold us down the riv…. Wait a minute.
@Euro McPúnty: I’m hoping Biden embarrasses the hell out of him and tells him thanks but no thanks, let’s zoom instead.
@Ailéin Ó Gréacháin: yeah they’re kind of all over the place and Leo running out to get himself in the news every minute is only confusing the thing more. There seems to be an excuse for everything at the moment.
@Ailéin Ó Gréacháin: I wonder at such remarks.
Seems people never look at the bigger picture and just like to complain.
By your logic, no EU governments would meet your expectations.
It’s as if there’s no way in a place like Europe this contagious virus can be contained while allowing economies to prosper and the populace be safe.
Ireland have one of the lowest deaths-per-capita in Europe so by that measurement, our lot (means all of us) have done well.
But carry on with the doom and gloom.
Hopefully most people are aware enough to ignore it.
@Ailéin Ó Gréacháin: exactly.. Its all spin and kicking cans down the road.. People deserve way better and far more transparency and straight talking at this stage
@Mark: love to see the spin put on that if he is told no
Very hard to listen to anything our politicians have to say… School opening U turns, no airport lockdowns, fines for holidaying abroad (outside 5km), Minister traveling to Brussels & Turkey (majority of world counterparts remain home), some politicians in breach of rules, Ppe gear issue for front line staff, leaving cert marking issue, no definitive leaving cert plans in place…
“Countries that have successfully got to zero didn’t have thousands of cases a day in the first place.” That’s true but we were down to 10 or less cases a day in the summer. I think there were no new cases the day Micheal took office.
@Vonvonic: Brilliant point….
@Vonvonic: seasonality
@Virgil: Beside the point in reference to what he said.
@Virgil: Seasonality has noting to do with Covid-19 get that clear in your head
On €350/week where would ya recommended Leo
@Tom Hickey: You could get half a night BnB in a well know 5* hotel in Mayo. Or a caravan in a field for a weekend.
@Tom Hickey: job centre
Since anouament, irish hotel prices have skyrocketed. €1000 pp a night!!!……..my prediction lol.
Give take give take give take Leo’s behaviour is like an abuser in a relationship, always undermining any sense of certainty; the abused will end up agreeing to anything defeated by their own anxiety animated by the abuser.
@Tony Ember: How is Leo abusing you Tony? For a point of reference for you Tony this is a recent case in which a woman was in an abusive relationship.
During a 20 month relationship, the 52-year-old man repeatedly attacked the woman, including burning her foot, cutting her with a pizza slicer, headbutting her in the face while she was recovering from nasal surgery and stamping on her arm causing her multiple fractures.
On another occasion he stamped on her head and strangled her, leaving finger marks along her throat. After being charged with these attacks the man threatened to send explicit images of the victim to her family if she did not withdraw the charges.
We are in a global pandemic an ever evolving situation. Everything is uncertain, cherish the small moments, be happy that you will see tomorrow, others aren’t so lucky, tonight there is families heartbroken with loss of loved ones.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: did I say he was abusing me? No – Don’t put words in my mouth. I said his behaviour was like an abusive person, I didn’t say he was violently abusive, so you’re reference as horrific it is, is not the comparison I made. The abuse I described is typically called gaslighting, which belongs to the category of emotional or psychological abuse, there is also physical, sexual, religious, medical, institutional, cultural, racial.
@Tony Ember: I take it we the citizens are on the receiving end of Leo’s behaviour and abuse? We are this relationship and I was asking how is Leo abusing you or us as citizens.
It is a global pandemic an ever evolving situation how can there be certainty.
I don’t see Leo’s behaviour as one of an abuser.
@Aileen Lawlor: its a global pandemic, ever changing situation
@Aileen Lawlor: ” The man changes his mind to suit the moment.” Isn’t that what a rational person is supposed to do?
600 euro for two nights in Galway. Good one leo.
@Daniel Goddard: I could pick a place in Dublin that costs 10,000 euro a night.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Dublin is outstanding in it’s extortionate gouging. Half arsed hotels with notions charging NY prices. Go on away out of it there ye gowls. Always was ridiculous.
@Dermot Sexton: my point you can find better value in galway.
@Dermot Sexton: you can be robbed as well
Why the f would you waste money on a holiday in Ireland and be forced to essentially self isolate in hotel room due to the weather
@Donal Cox: because they have wrote a law with no publicised expiry date, that keeps you in your own country by force.
And everyone said it didn’t go far enough. That’s why you will holiday in Cavan.
Remember the sanctimonious scorn for anyone who even suggested a forgein holiday in 2020?
Don’t be so selfish. It’s only one summer. Sure I just cancelled the ferry and can use the credit next year.
I always wondered why those people thought 2021 would be so different. Though I am surprised by their continued faith that if we just comply harder for a few more months, we will be released any time now….
Excellent interview, exceptional hard questioning too, covered the really important questions and issues around the pandemic and the handling of the same. I would have expected to see some on the few occasions of rejection of NPHET advice, but after all the other tough questions its a small annoyance, especially considering the peace of mind provided by the words like “anticipate”, “will be possible” ,”I don’t think”, “government will be cautious” & “that’s not possible to say”, albeit that those words were slightly dampened with “that it is all contingent on “. That being said my preference would be that he said nothing and not be giving false hopes of what may or may not happen in whatever month and instead concentrate on having plans a,b,c,d,e,f,g in place for the various possibilities. Im an sure that the following interview with the Taoiseach will reach the parts that this interview did not.
@Da Dell: 100% agree with your first two words Da. The rest is tripe. Strange you just can’t stop yourself listening to Leo. Leo living rent free in your head. You should try charging him rent or get advice from O’Broin as to how to get him evicted !
@Fionn Darland: I couldn’t care less what a Leobot like you say, its par for the course and only to be expected. but indeed you should know tripe well, as you are an expert in writing it yourself, as per your ridiculous other comment on this article. but in fairness to you, you did give me a good laugh with your swooning.
@Da Dell: You say you couldn’t care less, yet you bother replying! Me thinks you care.
@Fionn Darland: Yes i do love countering pr, spin & bs, and you provide the most delicious.
You know what – Ireland is a cracking place to go on your holidays! It’s one of the most scenic countries in the world and the people are as friendly as you’ll find anywhere! We will soon be exploring the world again but until that time comes around, let’s enjoy what’s on our own doorstep!
@Mike Ruddy: agree! I’m always amazed at people who have never holidayed in Ireland, using the excuse of it’s cheaper abroad, bad weather etc. Same people who will just give out about everything in Ireland.
It is an amazing beautiful country, you can stay do it cheaply. I’m always amazed when I meet grown adults who haven’t been in every county in Ireland. A holiday is more than sun and boozing! The country needs the money to be kept in Ireland this year. Our tourism industry needs our support
Why would anyone listen to Leo ? A proven liar who leaks confidential documents to friends, undermines the Taoiseach every chance he gets, has a love affair with himself and has mates in the media who control the narrative for him when he inevitably messes up. The same guy who absolutely slated NPHET last year for pushing for tighter restrictions because he thought he knew best and then brought us the highest transmission rates in the world. The same guy who spent the last year telling us travel wasn’t a problem and that we couldn’t do anything about it anyway until it became clear that travel was an issue and we could actually do something about it. Leo isn’t helping this situation. He never has.
@Declan Doherty: He didnt “bring us the highest transmission rate in the world”. We did that all by ourselves. Just because restrictions were eased didn’t mean mixing became compulsory!
We found out we were expecting our first baby the weekend that the first lockdown was announced last March. Both of our families and friends live in different counties, we have seen nobody except for a couple of visits to family last summer while cases were 10 a day. My partner was allowed in the hospital 20 minutes before our son was born, I laboured alone. Our families are yet to meet our son and to say it’s tough is an understatement.
People are armed with all the information they need to make their own decisions to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe.
@Eileen Murph: He directly challenged NPHET and belittled their advice to move to a level 5 before going against that advice and opening the country back up in the run up to Christmas. This decision led to us having the highest transmission rate in the world. Of course people should be responsible and make the correct decisions for themselves but if that were the case we wouldn’t need a government and we wouldn’t need restrictions. Meanwhile back in the real world, we expect governments to work with public health teams and make the right calls in order to help save lives. Leo did exactly the opposite and it cost lives.
@Declan Doherty: Mary Lou encouraged people to fly home for Christmas and she wanted the pubs open when Leo recommended people stay in their countries and don’t fly home for Christmas.
@Fionn Darland: What has Mary Lou got to do with it ? SF aren’t in government and they’re not even a real party according to Leo. You can’t have it both ways. If they’re not a real party then why would they have any bearing on the poor decisions taken by FFG ?
@Fionn Darland: Can you tell us all what this great man did that warrants all this love from you?
I asked another fan the same juestion further up this thread but didn’t get an answer, probably still googling.
@Declan Doherty: Sorry but I disagree, although maybe I missed the law being passed that instructed people to travel back to Ireland without quarantining thereby bringing the UK variant back with them and making it mandatory for all citizens to hit the shops, bars and restaurants and mix households as much as possible. I must have been sick that day.
Im pretty sure Leo was slated for asking diaspora not to travel home in December, well before Christmas. People only seem to listen to NPHET when it suits them, the general public included. NPHETs message was clear regardless of what restrictions were lifted and people had the information to do as they choose, some made the wrong decision. It never ceases to amaze me how everything is the Government’s fault.
@Eileen Murph: Leo also only seems to heed NPHET advice when in suits him too. You must have been sick mid Nov & mid Dec too.
@Da Dell: Pretty sick as it happens, as mentioned I gave birth in mid December. By your own admission he wasn’t the only one who didnt heed NPHETs advice yet Government are the only ones to blame?
If the Government hadn’t eased restrictions you would have the same people on here complaining about the loss of jobs, revenue and tax take as a result of businesses being closed. Its an impossible balancing act. We had a surge around the same time as most European countries, largely due to the UK variant which Irish people carried home with them despite knowing that travelling and not isolating was the wrong thing to do. We’ve been living with this for almost a year, it’s incredible that people do not know how easily the virus spreads at this stage.
But MM will go to his junket
@Jim O Brien Tech: if he does how can expect the rest of us to not go and see family abroad who we havent seen since early last year
@Mary Oliver: he’s not going to see family and he’s not going on holidays.
@Mary Oliver: looks like a bowl of shamrock makes it OK that’s our ticket
@Mary Oliver: before typing think long about your point and don’t just type sh-te
@Mary Oliver: AND HE DOESNT GO ALONE HE BRINGS HIS PRESS GROUPIES, FAM ETC.
@talksense: I wish you would have adhered to your own advise
@Cosmos20202020: No he going to make history, the MUPPET.
@Cosmos20202020: will any of his family be going with him????
@Pauline Fedigan: No he going? At least MM is coherent.
Pay to sit in a house or hotel under modified lockdown rules, in another part of Ireland for a week or two, sounds great.
I’ve had 4 overseas trips past 10 months. Always took pcr testing leaving and returning. Less airport queues, fabulous outdoor dining and of course sunshine. Took an August staycation and whilst the scenery here is stunning, won’t be doing that this year since everything is closed or kicked out of a restaurant after 90mins. Nope, I’m off overseas this summer for a proper vacation. And before all the shamers come on, as i said I’ve taken precautions on all trips PCR test out and back. Only 34 travel related covid cases since June 2020. Fact. Check HSE website.
@Gary Kearney: He has taken every precaution and doesn’t really pose any danger to anybody but you want to stay at home because of your irrational fear. I would argue that you are clearly the selfish person here
Lots of common sense as usual from Leo. Credit for extending the PUP and business supports. If we get the covid numbers down there are plenty of possibilities for a great summer holidaying in Ireland. Also, as the vaccines get rolled out we will have fewer hospitalisations. If only we could be sure of the great weather we got last year! Feeling optimistic after reading the article!
@Fionn Darland: lol, sounds like something you would write in fairness, were ya in there taking notes or maybe you helped write the article ?
@Da Dell: You want to bring everyone down to your misery, can’t have people being optimistic can we.
@Fionn Darland: Is that you Leo? If not, its definitely a YFG bot account for sure.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: I was optimistic when Leo gave us the great news that he was rejecting NPHET advice and slammed Tony as he must have known something they did not and where did that lead too ? No misery from me, realism., every-time that person in big shoes and red nose comes out trying to be populist be the bearer of the good news it tends to go pear shaped. But please you continue being one of his cheerleaders as he needs it, its not like he doesn’t already get a free ride from the journal and the rest of his prestitutes.
Ally & Fionn with yer fake a/c’s created in Feb & Mar 2020, strangely coincidental with the timing of Leo rehiring his pr guru concannon, should really get a room…… That’s of course if ye don’t already have a room with you know who !
@Da Dell: Ahhh ok thanks for showing me that you are anti lock down, got it.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Can you tell us all what this great man did that warrants all this love from you?
@Da Dell:
Da Irony of an account called ‘Da Dell’ claiming other’s have fake accounts!
@JustMeHere: I see Niall Boylan blocked you from calling into his show, and that was, to use your own words, the proudest moment of your life. You must not have much to be proud of if that is your high point. FYI, bot accounts are automated accounts.
@Fionn Darland: Lol, its my FB account ya can see pics of me and friends, and even a few cringy messages from me Ma. Dell is me name too, as if only the stu pid would believe your names is really Fionn,
@Ally Mc Culladgh: ahh how is that? Im pro lockdown and want even more , i also didn’t agree with Leo relaxing rules last year or both time’s he rejected NPHET advice . Can i assume that you did agree with Leo on that ?
Well that’s it, I’m moving to the Canaries.
@David Duffy: I moved here last week bud. Best decision I’ve made in a long time.
@Ryan: yeah sure ya did, bud. did you take your fake as F twitter acc with ya.
“Obviously international travel will be very difficult, much more difficult than it was last year, unfortunately”. Why? Once the high-risk groups are vaccinated, the pressure on hospitals will be removed and deaths will plummet. Cases should be very low looking at summer last year. Why can travel between two countries with similar transmission levels not be allowed and when will it be allowed then? This is not so much about sun holidays as it is about people being able to see their families and our crippled hospitality industry. And for those complaining about prices, the minimum wage in Ireland is about twice what it is in Spain and Portugal so if you accept that your waiters should be paid a living wage, you have to accept higher prices.
Here we go again, because of this attitude we are heading for another lock down in April or May. We had a gradual and cautious lifting of restrictions before, have they forgotten what happened at Christmas?
@Fred Conlan: restrictions have to co l be removed at some point. This is not normal
Hate that word ‘Staycation.’ More yank jargon. Do we not take holidays….no?
If Micheal Martin goes to Washington for St. Patrick’s Day it means that non-essential foreign travel is immediately re-permitted.
@Cookie: yes, they can’t fine is all
@Cookie: So the fact the Patricks Day access to the White House is a one of a kind event means nothing to you.
You simply dot understand the value of it as a whole to the country.
An Irish Catholic Potus, only the second one after JFK.
If the opportunity is there he should take.
Getting hammered in Spain is not as important
@Gary Kearney:
It’s a photo-op.
It is non-eseential travel.
If he goes he is stating quite clearly that non-essential foreign travel is allowed again.
@Cookie: He should fined if he does
If leo treats the citizens of Ireland like sheep. And mm travels to the USA in March. Then the sheep will fallow. On there summer holidays to Spain
And is that supposed to be good news? Honestly if that’s all we’ve to look forward to this year, then we really are in a bad way. What would be good news, would be not having to look at Varadkar and Sir Tony on the telly every five mins.
Prison Ireland
@Tony Humphreys: The prison is inside your head so narrow and confined. Always the victim,
The Spanish flu only lasted 2 years, why can’t they get on top of this in this day and age?
@Ross Dunne: they didn’t have social media, 24 hour news and public health services then. Ask if these think they can tell us what to do now.
Loved my staycation last year saw parts of the country that I never would have seen before and I must say it was stunning and would have been abroad and would have missed it all, so hoping we can go again donegal booked already so I’m praying we will be opened ,price wise not much difference than a Sun holiday if you factor in flights and we are saving Irish jobs
And pay through the nose!!!! That’s great news Leo
Will Ian Wright be back?
Couldn’t care less about staycation, I need to go to Italy for summer.
Also, with what I spend two weeks in Ireland, I’ll stay 5 weeks in Italy…. and more.
@Proudly Italian: I was going to Sorrento last Sept but flight cancelled 5 days before departure. Really want to get there this year, I’ll take whatever vaccine I can get!
@John McCann: I promised my kids: “we’re visiting Grandpa’s as soon as possible. They’ll have to shoot to stop us”
@John McCann: lol..you can still go vacc or no vacc.
Just say it’s a Lockdown til May 1st fgs and stop this vague offers of hope and mystery… A ramped up Level 4 is still a Lockdown in anyone’s eyes. Just spin spin and more spin. Just say it straight and let people have some certainty at a future date and something to actually look forward to.. Level4+ isn’t that
How will international travel be more difficult than last year. Hopefully most of the people in the EU will be vaccinated by the summer and air travel back to nearly normal.
Open up center parcs at a reduced rate ta fook !
Man is a sociopath
Might get myself a job on a construction site for the Summer.
Mystic Meg has spoken!
If you have your 2 injections and you don’t have covid I don’t see why you can’t go on a sun holiday
@Fran O’Keeffe: exactly. and 70%of people should be vaccinated by August with more vaccines coming online if there is even minimal competency in rolling them out . More misery being peddled that makes little sense .
Try escapes .ie great deals on a daily basis, doesn’t have to be expensive. Ireland is stunning,.take this opportunity to see our amazing country.
@Eadaoin Cummings: I agree. The west coast of this country is up there with some of the best locations in the world.
Start Ivermectin now, end the deaths and the lockdown. Incredible evidence for it at this stage. https://covid19criticalcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Buffalo-News-Top-Story-Feb2-2021-Doctors-finding-success-using-ivermectin.png
@Gary McNamara: have you seen ‘Contagion’ and the conspiracy theory guy in it? (played by Jude Law) Is he your inspiration?
@Virgil:cop on, look at the science please, Id love to proved incorrect. Please try it and we can debate.
Heres Aljazeera news report yesterday Id suggest you watch it before making comments that jump to conclusions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7rudChOLJY&feature=youtu.be
@Virgil: Lets be having you Virgil, evidence that it doesnt work please. Lets go.
@Gary McNamara: But nobody on RTE is talking about it so it must be a conspiracy. The only way to be safe is treble vaccination, double masking and a lockdown + curfew.
@Gary McNamara: OH great another internet sensation, the vaccines are there just wait.
@Gary Kearney: I dont understand, what do you mean? Ivermectin efficacy is irrefutable at this stage, its very inexpensive and widely available, if everyone had ivermectin tablets and rapid antigen tests this pandemic and lockdown could be over in 3 weeks. Please prove me wrong.
Ohhhhhh I love it when Leo Anticipates PRAT
Thank you king Leo, any little thing you can give us thick little gombeens will ensure you get to stay on your thrown, for we the most fluoridated one’s are so lucky to have you control our miserable unimportant lives.
Too much of a rip off to holiday here though
All BS. Leo must think we are thick.The rich will get out & the fines won’t be an issue for them. Normal folk will try and get a break anywhere in Ireland but they’ll get shafted. I’m off [work related] to the continent but hope to get a normal holiday in 2023.
If Taoiseach Micheàl Martin can go to the USA, I can go to Donegal
Tramore… here I come!
Why is he still talking? He’ll just do whatever Holohan orders him to do, same as the rest of FG, FF and the Green tail.
56 studies, 21 peer reviewed, irrefutable scientific evidence, in use the world over yet little neoliberal Ireland sees fit to kill its citizens in the name of the big pharma market. Its sickening. https://c19ivermectin.com/
The Journal like the stories lined onto the Microsoft Edge browser always show pictures of Leo simpering and smirking with captions “Leo hopefully of foreign summer holidays” or “Leo, predicts, vast improvement in vaccine roll-out”…..It’s not news, it’s cheap, cheap propaganda, and, people more and more are seeing through this nonsense.
Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment and all he does is talk about Covid-19, something he clearly knows jack sh!t about. Instead of trying to run a popularity contest between himself, mehole and their two parties how about provide clear and concise information to those sectors being affected so badly
have your say