LAST UPDATE | 9 Jun 2020

WE’RE ENTERING THE second day of Ireland’s accelerated Phase Two roadmap, and the government is being warned that some parts of society are being ignored as the country re-opens.

Later today, the Irish SME Association is expected to launch a blistering attack on the government for being “fixated” on large multinationals with small and medium businesses a “blindspot” for the government. 

Before the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, ISME’s Neil McDonnell will say that the government’s “perception is that big business is good, small business is bad”. 

Elsewhere, parents and advocacy groups have been critical of the accelerated roadmap to re-opening businesses without having any childcare provision for working parents. 

“There’s an expectation that women will be at home to do this,” the National Women’s Council said, adding “we’re absolutely in a childcare crisis, and the government has to step in”.

Here are today’s Covid-19 main points: 

• Health officials announced that nine more people in Ireland have died from Covid while there were another nine cases confirmed.
• Dr Tony Holohan has urged more people to wear face masks in public. 
• Irish scientists have urged the government to ensure the virus is “crushed” now as the restrictions in place could do more damage in the long term. 
• “Big corporations pay their taxes, while small business owners fiddle their expenses” – ISME’s fiery opening statement will be delivered later to an Oireachtas committee.
• That same committee heard that further outbreaks of Covid-19 are “probable” but that the strategy is the “right one for Ireland at this time”. 
• Fáilte Ireland outlined new guidance for the hospitality sector today which includes physically distanced dancing and no self-serve buffets. 
• There’s been a 39% spike in homes for rent in Dublin compared to last May, as the property market continues to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Heather Humphreys announced an investment of €1.4 million in 11 scientific projects involving research and the innovation response to the COVID-19 pandemic
• A free national bereavement support line has been launched by the Irish Hospice Foundation. 
• Here’s how churches plan to return to mass.
• Childcare providers won’t be returning until 29 June – and even when they do return, it isn’t clear how many children they can take in.
• Dublin City Council is to re-open playgrounds today. 
• Researchers want your questions for a new survey about Irish society during the pandemic.
• Ryanair has announced it will waive its flight change fee for all customers who book to travel in July and August.
• A study from researchers at UCC has said that Covid-19 will increase economic inequality across the country. 
• After earlier saying it would re-open, Tayto Park has said now it will not be re-opening its doors next week and will remain closed for the time being.
• Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have identified new problems linked Covid-19, and have warned of a sharp rise in antimicrobial resistance associated to Covid-19 treatments in the aftermath of the pandemic. 

Here are today’s international Covid-19 main points:

• The World Bank has said the pandemic has inflicted a “swift and massive shock” that has caused the broadest collapse of the global economy since 1870. 
• The World Health Organization has said that while the situation is improving in Europe, “globally it is worsening” when it comes to Covid-19. 
• The French economy will shrink by 10% this year and won’t recover to pre-virus levels until the middle of 2022, the country’s Central Bank said. 
• Criticism is mounting against Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro over claims his government is manipulating coronavirus death figures.
• Experts in the US say that the death toll in the country has plateaued since April, not rising or falling significantly.

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