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THE TAOISEACH HAS said the government doesn’t want to backtrack on any reopening measures, and that this principle will “inform any decisions” when advice is received from NPHET next week.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will next week issue advice to government on the planned 5 July reopening measures, which includes indoor dining.
The Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said yesterday that the government cannot make a decision on whether there can be further easing of restrictions on 5 July until this advice is received.
In an interview aired tonight with Claire Brock on Virgin Media Television, Micheál Martin said the Chief Medical Officer this week outlined his concerns about the Delta variant.
Martin said he “can’t speculate right now” in relation to the reopening plans, but he said it is “an area of concern to the Chief Medical Officer, to everybody, to myself included”.
“We don’t want to be going back. That’s the important principles that has to inform any decisions in light of any advice we might receive from the Chief Medical Officer and from NPHET, who have to do some modelling of this Delta variant,” Martin said.
Government sources have said that it would be close to impossible to reject advice if public health experts recommend a delay to some or all of the planned 5 July measures such as the reopening of indoor dining.
“The writing seems to be on the wall from NPHET’s point of view”, said one senior source who added that the CMO told the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly that he is worried about the variant, and that a few weeks’ deferral could prevent a rise in hospitalisations and give more time to get people vaccinated.
In a wide-ranging interview about the past year as Taoiseach, Martin said the worst part of the past year was in January.
“The impact of the virus was really challenging our health service, and challenging people, and impacting on people. In terms of not just case numbers, but also hospital numbers going up,” he said.
The Taoiseach said “no one modelled what subsequently happened” after the Christmas period when cases spiked daily in the thousands throughout January.
As has been said before about the pre-Christmas decision to reopen indoor dining among other loosened measures, Martin said: “If we knew subsequently what we knew then, we wouldn’t have made the same decisions.”
“I can recall talking to [HSE CEO] Paul Reid in the early part of January saying he could almost see the impact of Christmas Day on case numbers and hospitalisations, and New Year’s Eve on case numbers,” Martin said.
The Taoiseach was questioned on housing, saying: “I would say to others, including members of my own [party], I would say this: this is a crisis, we need more houses built.
I can tell you this much: as Taoiseach I’m saying I’m going to deal with the housing crisis as we’ve dealt with Covid.
“Every single avenue we can explore now, to get houses built, we’ll do. It needs everybody, from all parties, on board – to allow projects that are shovel-ready to get through the councils and get them built. In addition to that we will provide additional resources to get houses built.”
Early government dramas
The government hit a few hiccups over the course of its first few months. On the selection of the Cabinet, former Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary had expressed his disappointment after he was not awarded a Cabinet ministry.
Calleary later resigned as deputy leader of the party after he was among a number of politicians who attended the controversial Oireachtas Golf Society event last August.
Martin said there were “some who were disappointed” with his Cabinet selections last summer on what he described as a “bittersweet” day.
“It’s great to get elected as Taoiseach, but then you know immediately you’re going to disappoint a lot of people because there simply were not enough places there available to appoint people,” the Taoiseach said.
He said that “understandably” Calleary was disappointed at the time but that there is a “limited number of places, particularly in a three-party coalition government”.
The Taoiseach said the situation involving Barry Cowan was not one a person “could be happy with overall”.
Barry Cowan was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, before being removed from the post in the wake of controversy after it emerged he had been caught drink-driving in 2016.
“It was very difficult for Barry, very difficult for myself, and very difficult for the Government,” he said.
“But in situations like this I do believe it’s important to go before the House, to go before the Dáil, and give a full account of what transpired.”
He said it was a “disappointing time all round”.
The Taoiseach said he was annoyed by the Golfgate incident.
“Dara Calleary, he got it straight away and very quickly. We discussed it that evening. He said, ‘look, I’ve made a very big mistake here.’ And he resigned,” Martin said.
“All around that was a fairly challenging period early on in the government’s life, which we had to navigate and deal with.”
Relationships
Martin said he has a “very good relationship” with the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan and said that public health advice “has to be independent of government”.
“The moment you endeavour to over-politicise it as a country you’re in trouble. Look at Donald Trump in America, for example. He ridiculed public health, and the cases just went through the roof. Bolsonaro in Brazil. The United Kingdom in the earlier phase had a very difficult time,” the Taoiseach said.
“So there’s going to be tensions – we will not agree on everything. Government will not agree with public health advice on everything, and as I discussed earlier, different decisions can be taken – different variations on decisions can be taken.”
Martin said he gets on “fine” with both Leo Varadkar and Eamon Ryan, saying both he and the Tánaiste are “very practical” but “generationally we’re a bit different”.
Legacy
In terms of how he would like to be remembered as Taoiseach, Martin said “it’s a bit early yet to be talking about legacy” but that he wants to “come through Covid intact and to facilitate and work to make sure we can emerge from it as a society, a better society, with better quality of life; with the economy restored and people back at work”.
“And obviously in areas like education and housing in particular, I really want to turn around the situation on housing: to have a pathway there, where people are able to afford houses, and to get housing.”
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as someone who lost a beautiful niece last August because of her taking one MDNA tablet (it was her second one she ever took )
I can’t in anyway condone the taking of drugs .the devastation snowball that has hit our family from this is just awful to say the least .
a seventeen year old , an only daughter ,a father who is just a shell .a mother lost .and all for that one pill .
PLEASE KIDS THINK .
@john sheridan: so sorry to hear that, John.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: thank you
@john sheridan: Sorry for your loss but I’m betting she was raised on the “Just say no” mantra and it didn’t work. It’s never worked. If you really cared about more people not being lost to drugs you’d drop that useless approach and wholeheartedly support this initiative.
@Bryan Kelly: what a comment. you don’t have a lot of friends Bryan, do you?
@Bryan Kelly: sorry for your loss but…. you would have been better off jogging on
@Seamus Mac: I think he means MDMA I never heard of MDNA.
Pretty progressive stance. Harm reduction should be rolled out for all drug use, not just party drugs. Testing is a great idea.
@K: harm reduction !! Don’t ingest something that you have no idea what it contains…if you do, well you can’t fix stupid.
@K: facilities should be available for people to test their drug’s in all pubs clubs and concerts.the government needs to take responsibility and grow up about this matter that the people in this state do drugs.this can save lives..
@Robert Phelan: whos going to pay for these testing facilities Robert?
@Seamus Mac: we’ll be the ones paying just like we have to pay for the problems caused by alcohol seamus.its either that or legalize regulate and tax.
@SFNutters: “Just say no”’s been working fantastically hasn’t it? I’m sure there’s a saying about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Question for ye: Are you just stupid, or are you an amoral sack?
@Seamus Mac: Which is cheaper, relatively inexpensive test kits by the 100′s or the cost of one person’s treatment in ICU after a dodgy pill?
Testing drugs would save money and more importantly lives and hospital beds.
@Mill Lane: sense
@K: at work as well…
@Mill Lane: you have costings on this? What about staff to distribute the kits? What if one of the kits give an inaccurate measurement? How much would the lawsuits cost? Just say no.
@SFNutters: were you ever young? I suppose you just popped out of the womb ever so sensible
@Seamus Mac: Lol! Classic Irish.
Drugs have never been cheaper to buy. I remember in the late 90s an xtc table cost 10 pounds, now you can buy one for as little as a euro. If the government goes a head with minimum pricing of alcohol the drug cartels will be rubbing their hands with delight.
@TRUMPS#BLIMP: FG are visionaries with their tax increases to stop had habits
@TRUMPS#BLIMP: What tabs have you being buying for a euro?
@TRUMPS#BLIMP: well if you are buying E for €1 a go, then you are buying some seriously messed up cheap crap, more than likely a multiple mix of various tranquillisers, I know all drugs are dangerous but that type of stuff should be avoided at all costs….
@Devilsavocado: Sure, right? Cos the expensive ones are full of vitamins and good stuff.
@Devilsavocado: No the local drug dealer said they are fine, just as safe as the more expensive stuff.
@TRUMPS#BLIMP: Fiver a pop, or 3 for a tenner is the regular price.
@TRUMPS#BLIMP: will you direct me to these €1 pills please! I’m paying a tenner a pop.
@Richard: ye mad for the bitta gear richie??
Trust me guys if you buy in bulk from a whole sale drug dealer you will get them for a euro each.
@#Inglés Retweeter: did you miss the whole “I know all drugs are dangerous” part of my post??
@Hank Kingsley: Aspirin, possibly
@TRUMPS#BLIMP: where you getting yokes for a euro? Asking for a friend
Take a quarter of a pill ? There will be lads double dropping to beat the band
@Anthony Healy: Serious parenting skills being taught there Anthony……..lucky child
@John Joe & Bridie: there is no need for that. I’ve been to about fifty festivals and what Anthony has stated is the reality of what will happen. Young lads and girls trying to out do each other because the festival they are at has been the topic of conversation for the last six months.
@Ned Flanders: That comment tells me you’ve either never been to a festival or if you did you never met anyone doing drugs.
I’ve done more drugs than you’ve imagined seeing people do and you’re full of it.
@John Joe & Bridie: parenting skills have what exactly to do with telling the truth? Did he put two down his kids throat? I think not. You’re way out of touch with the accuracy of his statement so you take a cheap shot. Stunning.
@Bryan Kelly: I would disagree there very big difference between those who party in late teen/early twenties and those a bit older. Been there done that like lots of people. You’ve never seen people double drop in your life or double dab? Saying I’ve done more drugs than imagined makes you sound like you’re the one who has no idea to be fair. There’s always the few that go on how they could handle twenty pills in one session the scary part is I seen it happen. And it’s not exclusive to festivals. People party every weekend like this are out there
@Anthony Healy: that made me lol. Legend
@Bryan Kelly: ye mad thing kelly doing drugs, then tellin us all about it, your a madser altogether!
If i want to see flowers on my wall i’ll buy flowery wallpaper, Drugs are bad kids!
@Hank Kingsley: tell me the health benefits of a whack of heroin hank son?
@tooler doogan: The weight just falls off ya.
@Hank Kingsley: thats only because you have no money for food, having spent it all on gear!
@tooler doogan: this is an article on festival goers taking yokes, and not shooting up heroin. But I suppose you think all recreational drug users are also heroin addicts.
@Hank Kingsley: what are they taking? Cos they haven’t got a clue what’s in it…then they get a bad reaction and end up occupying a hospital bed that someone who is really ill needs..fools.
@Hank Kingsley: lol yokes, heroin probs safer than yokes, do they do vegan yokes for festivals?
@tooler doogan: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)61462-6/fulltext
Do a bit of reading bud. Knowledge will free your mind. Reputable scientific journal rating the relative harms of various drugs. Mdma is quite low.
@john doe: you sound more like hannah montana than tony montana pal!!
@tooler doogan: what are you on about
@john doe: thanks for that article very interesting o1ne point to note is the most dangerous drug on that list is legal and probably is in everyones house up and down the country, while the unregulated drugs black market will continue to thrive until we regulate the market, or at a minimum start to give out drug testing kits at nightclubs, festivals etc, and until that happens there will be death’s with people popping what they think could be yokes, but could be PCP instead of mdma
@SFNutters: A bottle of whiskey will do the damage
@tooler doogan: If they really were (bad) then there wouldn’t be a problem.
From this article, we are allowing people to sell our kids drugs and we then advise them how to take those drugs. We have no idea what’s in them and telling them how to ingest them is not the answer either. Would it be safer if our Government got involved. We really have to look at this in a different way to protect the next generation. The war against drugs has not worked. It’s like fighting big Pharma, They win every time.
@Teresa Scanlon: we are not allowing people to sell drugs. But like it or not, people are taking drugs, and taking lots of them. Giving advice is a much better option than burying out head in the sand.
@Teresa Scanlon: Wow! Why did no one tell me drug dealing’s legal now since we’re allowing people to sell them?
“Just say no” has been an abysmal failure for decades but you keep on beating that dead horse instead of considering that maybe alternative approaches developed by people who actually know what they’re talking about might be better.
@Teresa Scanlon: they’re taking them anyway meaning prohibition is failing so at least educate people to what they’re taking
I am actually shocked to believe that doctors are telling people in the mainstream media how to safely take illegal drugs. Is there not a better way to enjoy festival season than drink and drugs? Call me old-fashioned but what about #justsayno instead?
@Seeking Truth: aah fook sake seeking truth this is a serious conversation haven’t you got mass or something to go too…
@Seeking Truth: you are old fashioned
@Seeking Truth: How Well has #JustSayNo been working there? Sure in the decades since that ridiculously useless slogan began drug problems must surely have improved coz it’s just so damn effective yeah.
Seeking truth? Well it’s right there in the article, from the mouths of people who know what they’re talking about and not some ignorant tool who just wants to hop on their high horse.
Seeking truth? Seeking any excuse to be an arrogant toff and to hells with the people my ineffective catchphrase and opposition to information kills more like.
@Seeking Truth: Surely you can get it through your head that people ask doctors all the time how best to help them to cut down? Whether it be eating or drinking or taking too much medication, people do need helpful, practical advice and whatever helps each person is worth hearing. If the GPs wanted to advise thousands of people one at a time and bill the HSE, you might have some grounds for a gripe.
@Bryan Kelly: True. I would change the slogan to #JustSayYes. If they are determined to take an unknown substance made by criminals and havn’t got the brains to figure out the obvious danger, give them all that they want. If there is a particularly dangerous batch, all the better. Don’t waste resources trying to stop them, let them work away. If people are determined to play Russian Roulette, give them the guns and ammo.
@Kieran Woods:
People have been getting high since they have been on the planet. And they will be as long as humans will be around. We need reform mate, not the Stone Age views you just spurted out.
@Seeking Truth: it failed
@Nollaig Elliot: No reform needed. Let them at it.
I’m in my 30s now had my fun done the festivals and backpacking, 20s was a party but pretty happy with pints in pub life and the odd all nighter and honestly shocked there are still people believing just saying no is a thing. back 15 yrs ago this was regular not just limited to festivals. The scag was real lads. I work with active drug users and a doctors job is to save lives. It’s extremely naive to think people will say no. Harm reduction saves lives and if this advice makes someone take a more careful approach then fair play. You don’t have to agree with drug use but education is key. Some people need to climb down from that know it all attitude. Would you rather people die that’s the question to ask yourself. I assume answer is no. Then no opposition for this should be the norm.
Pity people can’t just enjoy the music…..just saying.
@Dorothy: pity people cant have a social occasion without alcohol, pity people cant eat less chocolate, pity people cant go to the cinema without eating loudly.
Just saying.
People arent perfect, they have weaknesses, we arent in a perfect world so lets give good advice and make it a bit safer for our youth
@Dorothy: people do enjoy the music. Ever had a pill and danced your ass off while listening to your favourite music? It’s a lot better than sober.
@john doe: Jeez lots of things are a pity in your world. Let’s cover them all then and say it’s a pity people aren’t perfect just saying…..
@john doe: Dont waste your energy worrying about them, neither should the HSE. Let them work away. Dodgy batch? That’s their problem, who cares?
People have been taking drugs for 1000s years and they’re never going to stop. How about we just make it a bit safer for them?
Soft pop em
People are always going to take drugs, in particular, people in the 18-25 year age bracket are always going to take drugs, it’s a brilliant idea to make it safer.
I think the buyer of the drugs should ask the seller to test one of the drugs on the spot and wait a few hours to see the result before chancing it
@FlopFlipU: bwahahaha. You’ve never bought a pill in your life with that statement. Here’s an idea – buy a testing kit yourself and test it yourself. Simple.
The cops would love to see a person bringing out a bag to test on the spot. Lol. Save them the bother.
Annie Oakes?
Like elsewhere, they should have a facility to test at festivals, make sure there are no life-threatening additives and know the strength. Safer.
have your say