theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Wage support schemes mean thousands can return to work as restrictions ease – Donohoe

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has defended the Government ’ s financial supports during Covid-19 .
Schemes like the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Covid Restriction Support Scheme meant that “ tens of thousands ” of people were able to go back to work with the easing of Level 5 restrictions , he told RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland .
The public finances were €8.9 billion in the red last month as the second wave of Covid lockdowns saw spending on pandemic-related supports rise and tax receipts slide .
This compares to a surplus of just €3.3 billion this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year-on-year deterioration of €12.3 billion .
The latest exchequer returns , published by the Department of Finance , show the Government took in €51.1 billion in taxes in the year to the end of November .
This was 6.9 per cent or €3.7 billion down on last year .
When asked about deficit figures , the Minister said that while the figure in November had been high , it was below the figure that had been expected earlier in the year .
The level of financial support for the country had been approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The situation now was different from in 2010 , he said .
“ The ghosts of the last crisis will always be with us , but the decisions we took in 2020 were different from a decade ago.
” Going into the Covid crisis the country ’ s finances had been in a good condition .
The country could respond now in a way it could not do a decade ago , he said .
When asked about the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to March , given that it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed , Mr Donohoe said that a decision would have to be made in 2021 when progress could be gauged .

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the country could respond now in a way now that it could not a decade ago. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell/The Irish Times
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has defended the Government's financial supports during Covid-19.
Schemes like the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Covid Restriction Support Scheme meant that "tens of thousands" of people were able to go back to work with the easing of Level 5 restrictions, he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
The public finances were €8.9 billion in the red last month as the second wave of Covid lockdowns saw spending on pandemic-related supports rise and tax receipts slide.
This compares to a surplus of just €3.3 billion this time last year, and marks a year-on-year deterioration of €12.3 billion.
READ MORE
The latest exchequer returns, published by the Department of Finance, show the Government took in €51.1 billion in taxes in the year to the end of November. This was 6.9 per cent or €3.7 billion down on last year.
When asked about deficit figures, the Minister said that while the figure in November had been high, it was below the figure that had been expected earlier in the year. The level of financial support for the country had been approved by the Fiscal Council, he added.
The situation now was different from in 2010, he said. “The ghosts of the last crisis will always be with us, but the decisions we took in 2020 were different from a decade ago.”
Going into the Covid crisis the country’s finances had been in a good condition. The country could respond now in a way it could not do a decade ago, he said.
When asked about the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to March, given that it could take longer for vaccination programme to be completed, Mr Donohoe said that a decision would have to be made in 2021 when progress could be gauged.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Q&A: The reopening of restaurants, cafes and gastropubs explained

Restaurants , cafes and gastropubs reopen for indoor dining across the State on Friday for the first time in over two months as part of the phased emergence from Level 5 restrictions for the Christmas period .
Here ’ s everything you need to know : Q .
So , from Friday , December 4th , all restaurants and pubs are reopening ?
Restaurants , cafes and pubs that serve a “ substantial meal ” can reopen from Friday for indoor and outdoor dining with additional restrictions in place .
Wet pubs can only offer delivery or take-away services .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for cafes , restaurants and pubs which serve food ?
Customers can stay for 105 minutes with a maximum of six people per table .
Anyone seated more than two metres away from the nearest table is allowed stay for longer .
Multiple tables can not be booked , and there is to be no live music .
Q .
Does the €9 meal rule still apply for gastropubs ?
Yes , people must spend at least €9 on a “ substantial meal ” that was prepared on site , inside the premises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum of six people per table , no multiple table bookings for the same party and a “ substantial meal ” that is prepared on site at gastropubs .
Q .
What time will restaurants/pubs close at ?
Speaking last week , the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said : “ Unfortunately , none of the research made available to Government supports the reopening of so-called wet pubs at this stage .
“ I know how deeply frustrating this will be for business owners in this sector .
I fully accept their goodwill about respecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening indoor hospitality carries risks and there is only so far we can safely go , ” Mr Martin said .
“ I want to reassure them that additional supports , over and above what is currently in place , will be made available to owners to help them into the new year and prepare for their eventual reopening.
” Q .
Do I have to wear a face mask while waiting for my table ?
Yes , the Government has advised face masks should be worn at all times other than when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear face masks at all times .
Q .
What did Nphet say about reopening restaurants and pubs ?
Nphet recommended the hospitality sector should be allowed to offer takeaway-only services throughout December .
It said a choice should have been made between relaxing restrictions on households visits or allowing the hospitality sector to reopen .
From December 18th , you can mix with a maximum of two other households , and you can also travel outside your county .
Until then you should not mix with any other households outside of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not travel outside your county .
Q .
Are nightclubs , discos and casinos still closed ?
Q .
What happens to pubs and restaurants after Christmas ?
The Government has said that from January 7th , measures put in place prior to December 18th ( the opening of non essential retail , restaurants/gastropubs and hairdressers ) will apply “ subject to ongoing review of the trajectory of the virus ” .
Q .
Are restrictions likely to be reintroduced if cases significantly rise this month ?
Speaking last weekend , Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government were expecting the level of cases to rise from the second week in December , and that a rapid rise could lead to further measures being introduced in January .
He said he did not expect to introduce restrictive measures before the end of December .
“ If something very , very serious happened , if we saw a huge increase in cases and we saw uncontrolled events happening all over the place , obviously Government will keep that under consideration , ” he said .

Wet pubs can only offer delivery or take-away services under the latest restrictions. File photograph: PA
Restaurants, cafes and gastropubs reopen for indoor dining across the State on Friday for the first time in over two months as part of the phased emergence from Level 5 restrictions for the Christmas period. Here’s everything you need to know:
Q. So, from Friday, December 4th, all restaurants and pubs are reopening?
Restaurants, cafes and pubs that serve a “substantial meal” can reopen from Friday for indoor and outdoor dining with additional restrictions in place.
Q. What about wet pubs?
READ MORE
Wet pubs can only offer delivery or take-away services.
Q. What are the additional restrictions for cafes, restaurants and pubs which serve food?
Customers can stay for 105 minutes with a maximum of six people per table. Anyone seated more than two metres away from the nearest table is allowed stay for longer. Multiple tables cannot be booked, and there is to be no live music.
Q. Does the €9 meal rule still apply for gastropubs?
Yes, people must spend at least €9 on a “substantial meal” that was prepared on site, inside the premises.
Q. What about outdoor dining?
The same restrictions apply – a maximum of six people per table, no multiple table bookings for the same party and a “substantial meal” that is prepared on site at gastropubs.
Q. What time will restaurants/pubs close at?
Businesses will close at 11.30pm.
Q. Why can’t wet pubs reopen?
Speaking last week, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “Unfortunately, none of the research made available to Government supports the reopening of so-called wet pubs at this stage.
“I know how deeply frustrating this will be for business owners in this sector. I fully accept their goodwill about respecting guidelines, but the reality is that reopening indoor hospitality carries risks and there is only so far we can safely go,” Mr Martin said.
“I want to reassure them that additional supports, over and above what is currently in place, will be made available to owners to help them into the new year and prepare for their eventual reopening.”
Q. Do I have to wear a face mask while waiting for my table?
Yes, the Government has advised face masks should be worn at all times other than when sitting at a table. Staff must wear face masks at all times.
Q. What about hotel restaurants?
Hotel restaurants can open to non-residents.
Q. What did Nphet say about reopening restaurants and pubs?
Nphet recommended the hospitality sector should be allowed to offer takeaway-only services throughout December. It said a choice should have been made between relaxing restrictions on households visits or allowing the hospitality sector to reopen.
Q. What’s happening with household visits for December?
From December 18th, you can mix with a maximum of two other households, and you can also travel outside your county. Until then you should not mix with any other households outside of those within your support bubble, and you cannot travel outside your county.
Q. Are nightclubs, discos and casinos still closed?
Yes, they remain closed.
Q. What happens to pubs and restaurants after Christmas?
The Government has said that from January 7th, measures put in place prior to December 18th (the opening of non essential retail, restaurants/gastropubs and hairdressers) will apply “subject to ongoing review of the trajectory of the virus”.
Q. Are restrictions likely to be reintroduced if cases significantly rise this month?
Speaking last weekend, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said Nphet and the Government were expecting the level of cases to rise from the second week in December, and that a rapid rise could lead to further measures being introduced in January.
He said he did not expect to introduce restrictive measures before the end of December.
“If something very, very serious happened, if we saw a huge increase in cases and we saw uncontrolled events happening all over the place, obviously Government will keep that under consideration,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Pressure mounts on Stanley as SF colleague says ‘wrong inference’ put on tweet

Senior Fine Gael Ministers have increased pressure on the beleaguered Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley by implying that deleting his Twitter and Facebook accounts might suggest he has something to hide .
The suggestion come as Mr Stanley ’ s party colleague Louise O ’ Reilly said the tone of a controversial 2017 tweet was not acceptable but that a wrong inference was put on it and the allegation that there was homophobic content .
The tweet should be taken in the context of “ the whole world ” discussing the fact Ireland had its first openly gay leader , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donohoe and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee renewed their criticism on Friday of the Laois TD , who is also chair of the powerful Public Account Committee ( PAC ) over a number of insensitive posts on his Twitter account .
Less than 24 hours after apologising for a tweet that praised an IRA ambush in Narrow Water in 1979 , Mr Stanley found himself defending himself against alleged homophobia in a tweet posted on the day Leo Varadkar became Ireland ’ s first openly gay political leader in 2017 .
Mr Stanley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tweet that read : “ Yippee 4 de tory .
it ’ s Leo .
U can do what u like in bed but don ’ t look 4 a pay rise the next morning.
” He said on Thursday that his record on campaigning for LGBT rights “ speaks for itself ” and he was involved in every campaign for gay rights .
“ I don ’ t have any apology to make to anybody , ” he insisted .
However , later on Thursday night both his Twitter and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked on Friday why the social media accounts needed to be deleted and questioned if there were further posts that could prove problematic for the Laois-Offaly TD .
He called on Mr Stanley to clarify if there were other comments on the account that was deleted and to explain why it was necessary to delete it .
In a signal of an escalation of the matter by Fine Gael , Mr Donohoe said that the apology and the deletions were no longer enough and clarity needed to be given .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and his tweet of a number of years ago where he linked someone ’ s sexuality to the job they do is just utterly unacceptable , ” Mr Donohoe told RTÉ Radio .
Likewise , Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said on Friday that Mr Stanley should come before the Dáil to explain himself on the matter .
Speaking on LMFM radio , she said : “ My own view is that it referred very negatively and in a completely inappropriate way to the sexuality of my own party leader .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why he tweeted it and what exactly it was in reference to and I think that ’ s not just a political thing .
I think LGBT groups would share the same view.
” Sinn Féin defended Mr Stanley in relation to his tweet about Mr Varadkar , backing his defence that there was no homophobic innuendo or intention behind it .
Speaking on RTÉ ’ s Today with Claire Byrne show , Ms O ’ Reilly , Sinn Féin ’ s health spokeswoman and Fingal TD said that the tone of Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Varadkar “ was not acceptable ” .
“ If any offence was caused , of course Brian needs to engage and he needs to have those discussions with people , ” she said .
As a party colleague , she knew Mr Stanley to be an ally to the LGBT community and a “ very , very staunch campaigner , not just for LGBT rights but also for human rights.
” It was important to understand the tweet in context , she said .
“ At the time in 2017 , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole world was talking about the fact that we had elected an openly gay head of Government .
“ It is something for which we should rightly be proud , and Brian Stanley ’ s remarks are in that context.
” However , Ms O ’ Reilly said that the tweet had been left open to misinterpretation .
Twitter was not the platform for everybody , “ not everybody is suited to engagement on Twitter ” .
She said Mr Stanley was not on the platform any more “ as I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , the tweets did prompt negative reaction and criticism within the party .
Seán Pender from Kildare , who is an LGBT officer and member of Ógra Sinn Féin in UCD announced he was resigning because of the recent controversy surrounding Mr Stanley .
“ This is not something I wanted to do , but after thinking it over over the last few days I felt it ’ s the best decision , ” he wrote on Twitter .
Former Sinn Féin Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor and LGBT officer Chris Curran said Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ ridiculous and insensitive ” .
Mr Curran , who left politics in 2019 , added that the views “ did not really represent the Sinn Féin that I know .
Something like this holds the party back from doing what it wants to do , ” he said .
Fianna Fáil has been more circumspect in its criticisms .
Minister or State for Higher Education Niall Collins said the tweets were “ incredibly stupid ” and criticised Mr Stanley for portraying himself as a victim .
Speaking on Today with Claire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , he was not calling on Mr Stanley to resign as that was a matter for himself .
He added that there was a wider issue of Sinn Féin activists and their use of social media .
Mr Collins said that during the Mother and Baby Homes debate he had been “ hugely abused ” on social media by “ Sinn Féin types.
” When questioned about this he said the abusive tweets had been from Sinn Féin supporters , not necessarily members .
It was not acceptable that some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public , but something else on their social media account , he added .
Leadership needed to be shown , it was an ongoing challenge .
The issue had to be addressed at all levels , he urged .

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has asked the party's Laois-Offaly TD Brian Stanley to take a week off after following a political controversy over his social media activities.
Ms McDonald also said he has written to Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl to request time to make a statement to the Dáil on December 15th
Less than 24 hours after apologising for a tweet that praised IRA attacks on British soldiers, the Public Accounts Committee chairman was forced to defend himself on Thursday against alleged homophobia in a tweet posted on the day Leo Varadkar became Ireland's first openly gay political leader in 2017.
So with the recent controversy surrounding Brian Stanley, I’ve decided to step down as LGBT Officer and member of Ógra SF UCD. This is not something I wanted to do, but after thinking it over the last few days I feel it’s the best decision. — seán pender | BLM (@seanpender_) December 3, 2020
In addition to the tweets, Mr Stanley seemed to infer during an interview with a local radio station that he would not eat Chinese chicken over his concerns about the spread of Covid-19.
READ MORE
Ms McDonald held a meeting with Mr Stanley on Friday amid calls from Government that he make a public statement and take questions before the Dáil.
In a statement, Ms McDonald said: “Today I met with Teachta Brian Stanley. We discussed the ongoing public commentary relating to tweets he has posted and a radio interview he gave in March.
“At my request, Teachta Stanley will take next week to be with his family, for whom this period of public controversy has proven very difficult.
“Teachta Stanley has this afternoon written to the Ceann Comhairle to request time to make a full personal statement to the Dáil on December 15.”
Mr Stanley had being facing mounting calls to appear before the Dail following a series of controversies.
Credibility
Earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the credibility of the Public Accounts Committee has been thrown into question by the social media activity of its chairman.
Mr Martin said the Laois-Offaly TD needs to reflect on the impact on the PAC in terms of the issues that have arisen following his two controversial tweets.
Mr Martin said the tweet about Mr Varadkar had an inference of homophobia in his view and exacerbated the situation for the Sinn Féin TD. He also said that his view was that Mr Stanley’s apology for the tweet that referred to the IRA atrocities was not sufficiently comprehensive.
“It’s part of a wider agenda by Sinn Féin to justify the narrative of the past 40 years,” he said. “It’s a problem for me and a problem for younger generations, of informing a them that it was appalling.”
In a strident criticism of the IRA campaign, Mr Martin described the Narrow Water bombings - in which 18 British paratroopers died - and the bombs which killed Lord Louis Mountbatten and three others - as “crimes against humanity” and “war crimes”.
“In my view I do not believe his (Stanley’s) apology was comprehensive nor did it did deal with glorification of military events he spoke, or the deaths of so many people,” he said. “There are loved ones of those who died who are still alive. That (tweet) was very upsetting to them.”
Earlier, Fine Gael Ministers increased pressure on Mr Stanley by implying that deleting his Twitter and Facebook accounts might suggest he has something to hide.
The suggestion come as Mr Stanley’s party colleague Louise O’Reilly said the tone of the 2017 tweet was not acceptable but that a wrong inference was put on it and the allegation that there was homophobic content. The tweet should be taken in the context of “the whole world” discussing the fact Ireland had its first openly gay leader, she said.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee renewed their criticism on Friday of the Laois-Offaly TD, over a number of insensitive posts on his Twitter account.
Less than 24 hours after apologising for a tweet that praised IRA ambushes at Narrow Water in 1979 and at Kilmichael during the War of Independence, Mr Stanley found himself defending himself against alleged homophobia.
Homophobia
Mr Stanley rejected any suggestion of homophobic undertones to a tweet that read: “Yippee 4 de tory. it’s Leo. U can do what u like in bed but don’t look 4 a pay rise the next morning.”
He said on Thursday that his record on campaigning for LGBT rights “speaks for itself” and he was involved in every campaign for gay rights. “I don’t have any apology to make to anybody,” he insisted.
However, later on Thursday night both his Twitter and his Facebook accounts were deleted.
Mr Donohoe asked on Friday why the social media accounts needed to be deleted and questioned if there were further posts that could prove problematic for the Laois-Offaly TD.
He called on Mr Stanley to clarify if there were other comments on the account that was deleted and to explain why it was necessary to delete it.
In a signal of an escalation of the matter by Fine Gael, Mr Donohoe said that the apology and the deletions were no longer enough and clarity needed to be given.
"It's not enough what Brian Stanley said, and his tweet of a number of years ago where he linked someone's sexuality to the job they do is just utterly unacceptable," Mr Donohoe told RTÉ Radio.
Likewise, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said on Friday that Mr Stanley should come before the Dáil to explain himself on the matter.
Speaking on LMFM radio, she said: “My own view is that it referred very negatively and in a completely inappropriate way to the sexuality of my own party leader. And I do think he needs to clarify why he tweeted it and what exactly it was in reference to and I think that’s not just a political thing. I think LGBT groups would share the same view.”
Sinn Féin reaction
Sinn Féin defended Mr Stanley in relation to his tweet about Mr Varadkar, backing his defence that there was no homophobic innuendo or intention behind it.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne show, Ms O’Reilly, Sinn Féin’s health spokeswoman and Fingal TD, said that the tone of Mr Stanley’s tweet in 2017 referencing Mr Varadkar “was not acceptable”.
“If any offence was caused, of course Brian needs to engage and he needs to have those discussions with people,” she said.
As a party colleague, she knew Mr Stanley to be an ally to the LGBT community and a “very, very staunch campaigner, not just for LGBT rights but also for human rights.”
It was important to understand the tweet in context, she said. “At the time in 2017, not just here in Ireland, but the whole world was talking about the fact that we had elected an openly gay head of Government.
“It is something for which we should rightly be proud, and Brian Stanley’s remarks are in that context.”
However, Ms O’Reilly said that the tweet had been left open to misinterpretation. Twitter was not the platform for everybody, “not everybody is suited to engagement on Twitter”.
She said Mr Stanley was not on the platform any more “as I’ve said it is not for everybody.”
However, the tweets did prompt negative reaction and criticism within the party. Seán Pender from Kildare, who is an LGBT officer and member of Ógra Sinn Féin in UCD announced he was resigning because of the recent controversy surrounding Mr Stanley.
“This is not something I wanted to do, but after thinking it over over the last few days I felt it’s the best decision,” he wrote on Twitter.
Former Sinn Féin Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor and LGBT officer Chris Curran said Mr Stanley’s tweet on Mr Varadkar was “ridiculous and insensitive”.
Mr Curran, who left politics in 2019, added that the views “did not really represent the Sinn Féin that I know. Something like this holds the party back from doing what it wants to do,” he said.
Fianna Fáil has been more circumspect in its criticisms. Minister or State for Higher Education Niall Collins said the tweets were "incredibly stupid" and criticised Mr Stanley for portraying himself as a victim.
Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ, Mr Collins said, however, he was not calling on Mr Stanley to resign as that was a matter for himself. He added that there was a wider issue of Sinn Féin activists and their use of social media. Mr Collins said that during the Mother and Baby Homes debate he had been “hugely abused” on social media by “Sinn Féin types.”
When questioned about this he said the abusive tweets had been from Sinn Féin supporters, not necessarily members. It was not acceptable that some people said one thing in person or in public, but something else on their social media account, he added.
Leadership needed to be shown, it was an ongoing challenge. The issue had to be addressed at all levels, he urged.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Coronavirus search: How is Covid-19 spreading in your locality?

The electoral area of Letterkenny in Co Donegal has the highest 14-day incidence rate of coronavirus in the State , as rates in the Border county continue to remain significantly higher than the national average .
The 14-day rate per 100,000 population is a useful measure of how the virus is spreading , and the figures for the rate in each 166 local electoral area are regularly updated on the Government ’ s Covid-19 data hub .
Letterkenny has a 14-day incidence of 288.7 , having fallen from above 300 a week ago .
The latest figures show the 14-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November 30th .
Nationally the incidence rate of the virus stands at 87 cases per 100,000 population , and following the six week lockdown the country has one of the lowest rates of Covid-19 in Europe .
Carndonagh local electoral area in Co Donegal , currently has the second highest incidence rate at 271.2 .
Dundalk-Carlingford in Co Louth , has the third highest rate ( 257.8 ) , followed by two Donegal electoral areas of Milford ( 254.2 ) and Buncrana ( 250.4 ) .
Of the 10 local electoral areas with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are located in Co Donegal .
The others are Cork City South local electoral area ( 243.1 ) , Claremorris in Co Mayo ( 232.1 ) , and Piltown ( 215.5 ) and Callan-Thomastown ( 201.1 ) in Kilkenny .
Other areas with high rates of coronavirus included ; Adare-Rathkeale , Co Limerick , which recorded a 14-day incidence of 198.5 , Dundalk South in Co Louth ( 194.2 ) , Longford ( 174.5 ) , Drogheda Rural , Co Louth ( 167.8 ) , and Laytown-Bettystown , Co Meath ( 164.1 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the west of the county , had the highest incidence rate at 167.1 .
Throughout the pandemic data has shown higher rates of Covid-19 in the north and west of the capital , with lower rates in south Dublin .
Ballymun-Finglas local electoral area had the second highest incidence ( 150.9 ) , followed by the North East Inner City ( 141.5 ) .
Glencullen-Sandyford local electoral area in south Dublin had the lowest incidence in the capital at 49.2 cases per 100,000 population .
Blackrock had the second lowest incidence at 62.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area at 63.4 .
Seventeen local electoral areas recorded less than five confirmed Covid-19 cases in the 14-day period , including : Connemara , Co Galway ; Dungarvan , Co Waterford ; Westport , Co Mayo ; Bantry West , Co Cork ; Ballymahon , Co Longford ; Ballinamore , Co Leitrim ; and Cahir , Co Tipperary .
Search the table with this story to see how your area is coping with Covid-19 .
If you are reading this on The Irish Times app and can ’ t see the searchable table @ @ @ @

A doorman gives directions to a pedestrians wearing a face mask-due along a busy shopping street in Dublin on Tuesday. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP
The electoral area of Letterkenny in Co Donegal has the highest 14-day incidence rate of coronavirus in the State, as rates in the Border county continue to remain significantly higher than the national average.
The 14-day rate per 100,000 population is a useful measure of how the virus is spreading, and the figures for the rate in each 166 local electoral area are regularly updated on the Government's Covid-19 data hub.
Letterkenny has a 14-day incidence of 288.7, having fallen from above 300 a week ago. The latest figures show the 14-day incidence rate of the disease up to November 30th.
Nationally the incidence rate of the virus stands at 87 cases per 100,000 population, and following the six week lockdown the country has one of the lowest rates of Covid-19 in Europe.
READ MORE
Carndonagh local electoral area in Co Donegal, currently has the second highest incidence rate at 271.2.
Dundalk-Carlingford in Co Louth, has the third highest rate (257.8), followed by two Donegal electoral areas of Milford (254.2) and Buncrana (250.4).
Of the 10 local electoral areas with the highest rates of Covid-19, five are located in Co Donegal. The others are Cork City South local electoral area (243.1), Claremorris in Co Mayo (232.1), and Piltown (215.5) and Callan-Thomastown (201.1) in Kilkenny.
Other areas with high rates of coronavirus included; Adare-Rathkeale, Co Limerick, which recorded a 14-day incidence of 198.5, Dundalk South in Co Louth (194.2), Longford (174.5), Drogheda Rural, Co Louth (167.8), and Laytown-Bettystown, Co Meath (164.1).
Dublin
In Dublin, Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart, in the west of the county, had the highest incidence rate at 167.1. Throughout the pandemic data has shown higher rates of Covid-19 in the north and west of the capital, with lower rates in south Dublin.
Ballymun-Finglas local electoral area had the second highest incidence (150.9), followed by the North East Inner City (141.5).
Glencullen-Sandyford local electoral area in south Dublin had the lowest incidence in the capital at 49.2 cases per 100,000 population.
Blackrock had the second lowest incidence at 62.3, followed by the Rush-Lusk local electoral area at 63.4.
Seventeen local electoral areas recorded less than five confirmed Covid-19 cases in the 14-day period, including: Connemara, Co Galway; Dungarvan, Co Waterford; Westport, Co Mayo; Bantry West, Co Cork; Ballymahon, Co Longford; Ballinamore, Co Leitrim; and Cahir, Co Tipperary.
Search the table with this story to see how your area is coping with Covid-19. If you are reading this on The Irish Times app and can't see the searchable table, go here.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--As restaurants and gastropubs reopen, people warned of ‘highest risk’ Christmas of their lives

Daily Covid-19 cases could climb as high as 1,200 by mid-January if the virus spreads rapidly over Christmas , public health officials have warned , placing the State on the cusp of lockdown .
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said such a scenario was “ not an inevitable one ” , if people limited their contacts over the next month .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) projected on Thursday night that if the reproductive rate of the virus spiked significantly over a busy two-week festive period , the country could be facing daily case numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw the introduction of a six-week lockdown , .
The concern comes as restaurants and gastropubs reopen for indoor dining across the State on Friday for the first time in two months as part of the phased emergence from Level-5 restrictions .
Health Service Executive chief Paul Reid said people were facing into the “ highest risk ” Christmas of their lives .
As people meet in restaurants , their “ guard can understandably drop , especially after a glass or two of wine ” , he said .
“ Or maybe as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see each other again for Christmas , our natural inkling is to hug each other and wish each other happy Christmas , which we know in the current environment is an extreme risk.
” While encouraging people to enjoy the holidays , he urged them to “ be on their highest level of guard ” over the coming weeks .
Speaking during a press conference , Mr Reid said there had been much talk of another lockdown in January if cases soared again because of the festive easing of restrictions but that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that way if we take all of the precautions and do the simple things very well.
” Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said it was “ important ” that , despite wonderful vaccine news , people “ don ’ t lose discipline , for next few weeks we live well , but keep each other safe ” .
He told RTÉ the fall in case numbers were “ bottoming out a week quicker than hoped ” with the lowest number projected to be next week before figures go back up .
Prof Philip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modelling group , on Thursday outlined several projections for the number of daily cases next month , based on various potential reproductive rates of the virus , known as the R-number .
If the R-number increased from the current 0.8 to 1.4 , as people began to socialise this month , the country might see 300-600 new cases a day by the second week of January , he said .
“ Realistically there is a concern that we might see R-numbers in the range of 1.4 , unless we collectively are exceptionally careful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told a press briefing .
However , health officials were concerned about what would happen if the R-number rose to 2 , during a two-week period of expected increased social contact and gathering around Christmas .
“ What that does is very significantly accelerate the spread of the virus through the core festive period and leaves us in very rapid exponential growth in early January , ” Prof Nolan said .
“ Those scenarios , with a very high level of viral transmission in the Christmas period , would see somewhere between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-January , ” he said .
Prof Nolan said the purpose of outlining the stark projections was to highlight “ the risks we face over the coming weeks ” .

From left, Dr Ronan Glynn, Dr Tony Holohan and Professor Philip Nolan of Nphet at a Covid -19 press conference at the Department of Health on Thursday evening. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
Daily Covid-19 cases could climb as high as 1,200 by mid-January if the virus spreads rapidly over Christmas, public health officials have warned, placing the State on the cusp of lockdown.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said such a scenario was “not an inevitable one”, if people limited their contacts over the next month.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) projected on Thursday night that if the reproductive rate of the virus spiked significantly over a busy two-week festive period, the country could be facing daily case numbers similar to the levels in October which saw the introduction of a six-week lockdown, .
Hospital Report
The concern comes as restaurants and gastropubs reopen for indoor dining across the State on Friday for the first time in two months as part of the phased emergence from Level-5 restrictions.
READ MORE
Health Service Executive chief Paul Reid said people were facing into the “highest risk” Christmas of their lives. As people meet in restaurants, their “guard can understandably drop, especially after a glass or two of wine”, he said.
‘Extreme risk’
“Or maybe as people leave each other and may not see each other again for Christmas, our natural inkling is to hug each other and wish each other happy Christmas, which we know in the current environment is an extreme risk.”
While encouraging people to enjoy the holidays , he urged them to “be on their highest level of guard” over the coming weeks.
Speaking during a press conference, Mr Reid said there had been much talk of another lockdown in January if cases soared again because of the festive easing of restrictions but that “It doesn’t have to be that way if we take all of the precautions and do the simple things very well.”
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said it was “important” that, despite wonderful vaccine news, people “don’t lose discipline, for next few weeks we live well, but keep each other safe”. He told RTÉ the fall in case numbers were “bottoming out a week quicker than hoped” with the lowest number projected to be next week before figures go back up.
Spiral of daily cases
Prof Philip Nolan, chair of Nphet’s modelling group, on Thursday outlined several projections for the number of daily cases next month, based on various potential reproductive rates of the virus, known as the R-number.
If the R-number increased from the current 0.8 to 1.4, as people began to socialise this month, the country might see 300-600 new cases a day by the second week of January, he said.
“Realistically there is a concern that we might see R-numbers in the range of 1.4, unless we collectively are exceptionally careful to limit our social contacts,” he told a press briefing.
However, health officials were concerned about what would happen if the R-number rose to 2, during a two-week period of expected increased social contact and gathering around Christmas.
“What that does is very significantly accelerate the spread of the virus through the core festive period and leaves us in very rapid exponential growth in early January,” Prof Nolan said. “Those scenarios, with a very high level of viral transmission in the Christmas period, would see somewhere between 800 and 1,200 cases a day by mid-January,” he said.
Prof Nolan said the purpose of outlining the stark projections was to highlight “the risks we face over the coming weeks”.


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--Covid-19: Is Christmas really the problem?

With shops and restaurants open again and the festive season approaching , the battle for the soul of Christmas is a joint one .
On the one side are businesses hoping to make up for the devastating losses they have suffered over months of lockdowns during the coming weeks , traditionally their busiest time of the year .
The vast majority will follow infection control rules to the letter but the very fact they are operating will facilitate transmission of Covid-19 .
On the other side are public health doctors who have not held back this week from painting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if their advice is not followed .
By now , after two surges of the virus , they have precedent on their side with their forecasts of up to 1,200 cases a day by mid-January if it gets out of hand yet again .
It is also clear there has been little or no honeymoon period or “ tail ” after the ending of Level 5 restrictions , as politicians had hoped .
Rather than continuing to fall since then , case numbers are static and even rising in some counties , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve realised the full extent of gains around the virus , ” Prof Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team told its briefing on Thursday evening .
So six weeks of punitive lockdown , which followed weeks of earlier restrictions , managed to reduce cases by 80 per cent and keep the lid on ICU admissions and deaths .
But it didn ’ t come anywhere near suppressing the virus to the level seen last May .
What conclusions should be drawn from this performance ?
Is the solution yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economically and socially ?
Or can lockdowns achieve only so much , so other solutions have to be found to the challenges posed by the pandemic ?
Prof Paul Moynagh and other immunologists have pointed to a strong seasonal component to the behaviour of the virus .
“ Seasonality was our friend last summer , but not now , ” he says .
These are the peak months for coronavirus infections , thanks to cold temperature and dry indoor conditions created by heating systems .
So maybe it was never going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases targeted by public health officials at the end of Level 5 .
And that ’ s before the declining buy-in of the population is considered .
Nphet ’ s opinion polling shows continuing majority support for its approach but it also reveals declining compliance with the rules , especially among younger people .
Traffic and other mobility data paints the same picture of people getting on with their business to an extent that is not supposed to be possible with the travel limitations in place .
Declining adherence to public health rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lockdown , and needs to be factored into decisions about imposing future restrictions .
This week has been filled with dire warnings against socialising over Christmas , but with the trends showing case numbers heading upwards already , is Christmas really the problem ?
The incidence of Covid-19 in Ireland is currently the lowest in Europe .
We have excelled in keeping deaths low this time around .
But we haven ’ t found the solution to avoiding repeat surges .
The imminent arrival of a vaccine doesn ’ t get us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take months before a vaccine is fully distributed and shown to be working safely and effectively .
Until then , we have to keep the virus in check , as well as finding a way of keeping the economy open .

Case numbers are static and even rising in some counties since the ending of Level 5 restrictions. Photograph: Laura Hutton / The Irish Times
With shops and restaurants open again and the festive season approaching, the battle for the soul of Christmas is a joint one.
On the one side are businesses hoping to make up for the devastating losses they have suffered over months of lockdowns during the coming weeks, traditionally their busiest time of the year. The vast majority will follow infection control rules to the letter but the very fact they are operating will facilitate transmission of Covid-19.
On the other side are public health doctors who have not held back this week from painting a gloom-laden picture of what is to come if their advice is not followed.
Hospital Report
By now, after two surges of the virus, they have precedent on their side with their forecasts of up to 1,200 cases a day by mid-January if it gets out of hand yet again.
READ MORE
It is also clear there has been little or no honeymoon period or “tail” after the ending of Level 5 restrictions, as politicians had hoped. Rather than continuing to fall since then, case numbers are static and even rising in some counties, especially those near the Border.
"We've realised the full extent of gains around the virus," Prof Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team told its briefing on Thursday evening.
So six weeks of punitive lockdown, which followed weeks of earlier restrictions, managed to reduce cases by 80 per cent and keep the lid on ICU admissions and deaths. But it didn’t come anywhere near suppressing the virus to the level seen last May.
‘Seasonality’
What conclusions should be drawn from this performance? Is the solution yet more lockdown, with all that implies economically and socially? Or can lockdowns achieve only so much, so other solutions have to be found to the challenges posed by the pandemic?
Prof Paul Moynagh and other immunologists have pointed to a strong seasonal component to the behaviour of the virus. "Seasonality was our friend last summer, but not now," he says.
These are the peak months for coronavirus infections, thanks to cold temperature and dry indoor conditions created by heating systems. So maybe it was never going to be possible to get down to the 50-100 cases targeted by public health officials at the end of Level 5.
And that’s before the declining buy-in of the population is considered. Nphet’s opinion polling shows continuing majority support for its approach but it also reveals declining compliance with the rules, especially among younger people.
Traffic and other mobility data paints the same picture of people getting on with their business to an extent that is not supposed to be possible with the travel limitations in place.
Warnings
Declining adherence to public health rules makes it harder to achieve the aims of lockdown, and needs to be factored into decisions about imposing future restrictions.
This week has been filled with dire warnings against socialising over Christmas, but with the trends showing case numbers heading upwards already, is Christmas really the problem?
The incidence of Covid-19 in Ireland is currently the lowest in Europe. We have excelled in keeping deaths low this time around. But we haven't found the solution to avoiding repeat surges.
The imminent arrival of a vaccine doesn’t get us off the hook either. It will take months before a vaccine is fully distributed and shown to be working safely and effectively. Until then, we have to keep the virus in check, as well as finding a way of keeping the economy open.


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--Doctors ‘shooting themselves in foot’, Varadkar texted Ó Tuathail

Doctors who campaigned against Fine Gael in general election campaigns would be “ shooting themselves in the foot ” , Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar told GPs representative , Maitiú Ó Tuathail , two years ago .
In text exchanges between the two on October 11th , 2018 , the then president of the National Association of General Practitioners warned Mr Varadkar that GPs were discussing “ actively campaigning ” against Fine Gael .
“ Including posters in waiting room , handing leaflets to patients and placing posters on lampposts , ” said one of the text messages , released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Information Act .
In response , Mr Varadkar texted : “ Who will [ they ] campaign for .
SF and leftists want you all on salaries and not big ones .
Maybe €60k .
Labour wants free GP for everyone within a few years .
Foot and shoot spring to mind.
” Dr Ó Tuathail and the Tánaiste were at the centre of a controversy in November when it emerged that Mr Varadkar had leaked the NAGP president a copy of a confidential pay deal with a rival group , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before it was published or finally signed off .
Mr Varadkar has said that what he did was “ not best practice ” , but that it was done in order to secure the agreement of all GPs for the deal .
The Opposition strongly criticised the Tánaiste over the leak , saying he had abused his position as Taoiseach , and that the leak may have benefited the NAGP , an organisation which collapsed soon afterwards .
The Fine Gael leader and Dr Ó Tuathail are friends , “ but not close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his reply to Dr Ó Tuathail , the then taoiseach continued : “ Hopeful talks with IMO will result in a deal on increased resources but they have to be realistic .
Budget is limited even with the extra billion ” – a reference to a further increase in health funding of €1.05 billion signed off in Budget 2019 , which had been announced two days before the text exchange .
Dr Ó Tuathail responded by saying : “ We are rightly f-cked I know this .
It ’ s just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think I ’ ll resign before I do that.
” Mr Varadkar said : “ Only way to stop it is for GPs to sign up to a deal that ’ s affordable for the taxpayer and good for patients – phased reversal of Fempi [ recession-era cuts ] , new money for new services and phased extension for free GP care to those on lower incomes.
” In a separate exchange , the day after the budget , which extended free GP care to tens of thousands more people , Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think the budget may have been the last straw for GPs .
I have never seen them so angry.
” In response , Mr Varadkar asked whether it was not the case that GP groups wanted to expand eligibility on income rather than age , “ and it ’ s in Sláintecare ” .
Given that was the case , he said anger at the implementation of these policies “ is kind of irrational ” .
A further text exchange the following month shows Dr Ó Tuathail recommending to the taoiseach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – being worked on by Chay Bowes , a healthcare entrepreneur who was at the time working with the NAGP .
Mr Bowes and Dr Ó Tuathail had also discussed working on the project together .
Mr Bowes later supplied documents , including screengrabs of conversations between Mr Varadkar and the NAGP president , to Village Magazine for the story which caused the controversy .
“ Possible solution to lack of winter initiative being launched in Tallaght in January – called Community Hospital Ireland .
Great idea , and one you guys should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote Dr Ó Tuathail .
Asked for more information , the NAGP president said it was “ a national community intervention team ” privately funded but backed by the HSE .
“ Basically nurses treating patients in their home.
” The records released to The Irish Times do not show any further engagement from Mr Varadkar on the matter .

Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail: In his reply to the GPs representative, Leo Varadkar wrote: “Hopeful talks with IMO will result in a deal on increased resources but they have to be realistic.” Photograph: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie
Doctors who campaigned against Fine Gael in general election campaigns would be "shooting themselves in the foot", Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar told GPs representative, Maitiú Ó Tuathail, two years ago.
In text exchanges in October 2018, the then-taoiseach also warned Dr Ó Tuathail that ongoing discord among GP groups might disadvantage them over other groups seeking concessions from the Government, saying “we need to cut a deal with you soon. Only a limited pot [of money] and nurses and consultants are much more effective at getting something from it”.
Earlier in the exchange, the then-president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) warned Mr Varadkar that GPs were discussing “actively campaigning” against Fine Gael.
“Including posters in waiting room, handing leaflets to patients and placing posters on lampposts,” said one of the text messages, released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act.
READ MORE
In response, Mr Varadkar texted: "Who will [they] campaign for. SF and leftists want you all on salaries and not big ones. Maybe €60k. Labour wants free GP for everyone within a few years. Foot and shoot spring to mind."
In his reply to Dr Ó Tuathail, the then taoiseach continued: “Hopeful talks with IMO [ Irish Medical Organisation] will result in a deal on increased resources but they have to be realistic. Budget is limited even with the extra billion” – a reference to a further increase in health funding of €1.05 billion signed off in Budget 2019, which had been announced two days before the text exchange.
Dr Ó Tuathail responded by saying: “We are rightly f****d I know this. It’s just frustrating. Like campaigning for FF. I think I’ll resign before I do that.” Mr Varadkar said: “Only way to stop it is for GPs to sign up to a deal that’s affordable for the taxpayer and good for patients – phased reversal of Fempi [recession-era cuts], new money for new services and phased extension for free GP care to those on lower incomes.”
Mr Varadkar told the NAGP president that the “biggest problem from our point of view is that GPs are fighting among themselves and don’t know what they want or are willing to give in return for more resources”.
Sections of the text exchange are redacted, but Mr Varadkar then continues: “Anyway IMO and NAGP can come together and agree something along these lines. We need to cut a deal with you soon. Only a limited pot and nurses and consultants much more effective at getting something from it”.
Dr Ó Tuathail responded, saying the two organisations would “never come together”. “We’ve the members but they’ve the power. S**t situation all round.”
‘Not best practice’
Dr Ó Tuathail and the Tánaiste were at the centre of a controversy in November when it emerged that Mr Varadkar had leaked the NAGP president a copy of a confidential pay deal with a rival group, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), before it was published or finally signed off.
Mr Varadkar has said that what he did was “not best practice”, but that it was done in order to secure the agreement of all GPs for the deal. The Opposition strongly criticised the Tánaiste over the leak, saying he had abused his position as Taoiseach, and that the leak may have benefited the NAGP, an organisation which collapsed soon afterwards. The Fine Gael leader and Dr Ó Tuathail are friends, “but not close friends”, Mr Varadkar has said.
‘Kind of irrational’
In a separate exchange, the day after the budget, which extended free GP care to tens of thousands more people, Dr Ó Tuathail told the then taoiseach: “I think the budget may have been the last straw for GPs. I have never seen them so angry.” In response, Mr Varadkar asked whether it was not the case that GP groups wanted to expand eligibility on income rather than age, “and it’s in Sláintecare”. Given that was the case, he said anger at the implementation of these policies “is kind of irrational”.
A further text exchange the following month shows Dr Ó Tuathail recommending to the taoiseach a business project – Community Hospital Ireland – being worked on by Chay Bowes, a healthcare entrepreneur who was at the time working with the NAGP. Mr Bowes and Dr Ó Tuathail had also discussed working on the project together. Mr Bowes later supplied documents, including screengrabs of conversations between Mr Varadkar and the NAGP president, to Village Magazine for the story which caused the controversy.
"Possible solution to lack of winter initiative being launched in Tallaght in January – called Community Hospital Ireland. Great idea, and one you guys should take credit for. Seriously," wrote Dr Ó Tuathail.
Asked for more information, the NAGP president said it was “a national community intervention team” privately funded but backed by the HSE. “Basically nurses treating patients in their home.”
The records released to The Irish Times do not show any further engagement from Mr Varadkar on the matter.


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--Is Ireland ready for the Covid-19 vaccine?

Before vaccines , pandemics ended very differently .
There was , explains a senior Irish drugs industry expert , a “ social end to a pandemic ” .
Either a virus mutated , becoming less harmful , or it brutally worked its way through a population that had stopped trying to contain it .
“ The Black Death didn ’ t end in one day , people just got fed up of staying in their houses , ” observes the industry figure .
Today , however , it is not the 14th century , and society ’ s attitudes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 vaccines are now centre stage , with up to 10 expected to be approved in Ireland , coming in on a tide of extraordinarily encouraging data about how effective they may be .
But the suppression of the virus brings new challenges .
Vaccinating for Covid-19 , industry insiders say , is utterly different to what has gone before .
Every year , Ireland vaccinates hundreds of thousands against the flu .
However , that process is , by comparison , straightforward .
The State agrees a tender with one company , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the country through GPs and pharmacies .
There are no onerous storage requirements , it is administered in one dose , and there is usually ample supply .
Covid-19 vaccines are different .
For starters , there ’ s not just one ; Ireland is party to six bulk-buying contacts negotiated by the European Union – which , if the vaccines are approved , could see upwards of nine million doses for the State .
“ [ There are ] six vaccines , which may or may not all get authorisation ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on stream at different times , [ and ] different vaccines may be more suitable for different populations , ” a senior political source involved in planning said .
Everyone accepts that this vaccination programme is hugely complex , unlike anything before .
But what does that mean ?
Some vaccines are based on novel technologies – specifically the messenger RNA method used by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna .
They must be stored at super-low temperatures – minus 80 and minus 20 degrees respectively .
Others , those made by Belgian company Janssen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be stored at fridge temperatures .
The latter vaccines can “ plug into ” the State ’ s normal vaccines distribution system – the National Cold Chain Service , managed by United Drug for the HSE .
However , the first ones available are those demanding ultra-low temperatures – BioNtech/Pfizer and Moderna .
Pfizer says there are three options for storing its vaccine : ultra-low temperature freezers that can store for six months ; a Pfizer-made “ thermal shipper ” that can store doses for up to 30 days if dry ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can be stored for up to five days in normal fridge conditions .
Nine ultra-low temperature freezers bought by the HSE have been delivered in recent days to boost already-existing cold storage .
Is this enough ?
We will see .
Even if it is , the temperamental nature of some vaccines will mean that they will have to be given to patients differently than before .
Multiple sources on both the industry and State side say that mass vaccination centres will be needed for the super-cold options , or mobile units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hospitals , or care homes .
The Defence Forces may be involved , too .
Who gets the vaccine first ?
This week , the National Immunisation Advisory Council ( NIAC ) prioritised hospital and nursing home workers , the elderly and those with underlying conditions in a letter to the National Public Health Emergency Team .
Even within these groups , some will get the vaccine first .
There are some “ known unknowns ” , too .
Some vaccines may be more or less effective for some age groups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so the State may have to adjust mid-flight .
Also , the Government has yet to decide how much of the population it wants inoculated .
The complexity does not end there .
Given the speed of development , these vaccines do not come in pre-packaged syringes .
Instead , they will come in bulk : “ That raises the question of whether we have enough needles and syringes , ” says a well-placed industry source .
The HSE must also train enough vaccinators , but this is more complicated than it sounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doses .
Here , the Government is confident , but some in the drugs industry have doubts : “ You can ’ t assume people will understand , ” said one executive .
Ireland does not have a single national immunisation registry , either , which could make it more complicated to give multiple doses , since it must be clear who has got a first vaccine shot and when they should get a second .
“ [ Today ] , we ’ ve no idea who gets vaccinated ; we know who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priorities , but generally because there ’ s ample vaccine available , nobody ’ s too bothered .
We don ’ t have the infrastructure in place that we can just plug in and use for the Covid vaccine , ” said one executive .
Last month , Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the HSE was “ currently ” working to procure a national immunisation information system ” that would link with regional and national immunisation databases .
Such a system would be “ important ” , though decisions are still be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be put in place ahead of the immunisation programme , “ or whether a satisfactory interim solution ” could be adopted .
Such a database , sources say , would trace bad reactions to vaccines among events , if they happen .
And they would do so in real time , perhaps allowing other people to be treated with different vaccines if issues emerge .
Meanwhile , there is the issue of compensating those who do react poorly to a vaccine , if there are any .
While there is no reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the publicity surrounding the rollout is likely to spur claims .
The Government , say a multitude of sources , now needs to introduce its promised no-fault compensation scheme before such claims materialise , or else it risks spending years and tens of millions of euro bogged down in litigation .
The Opposition in the Oireachtas is alive to these frailties .
“ We still use charts in hospitals , so how are we going to ensure that we can manage every single human being in this country [ for vaccination ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the week .
As reported by The Irish Times on Friday , the issue of Brexit has also been raised with drug manufacturers at length by the Departments of Transport and Health , concerned about the impact of potentially losing the landbridge across the United Kingdom .
All these issues , and more , are being examined by the State ’ s Covid-19 taskforce , led by Prof Brian MacCraith .
A huge variety of State agencies are represented on it , from the HSE to the Defence Forces to IDA Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though the taskforce has been the focus of headlines , the HSE ’ s National Immunisation Office and the independent NIAC are key players , concentrating on supply chain logistics , staffing , monitoring and reporting , and information technology .
The HSE ’ s procurement office , led by Sean Brosnan , will play a key role , alongside senior HSE officials such as assistant director of emergency management Tom McGuinness , director of community operations David Walsh and Dr Lorraine Doherty , national clinical director for Health Protection .
Given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the complexity of the mobilisation required , political pressure is inevitable .
Mr Kelly has already called for the appointment of a Cabinet Minister directly responsible .
Errors or delays are likely to carry a high political price .
“ This isn ’ t something that we can be laissez-faire about , ” Mr Kelly said .
“ Everything has come a lot quicker .
We can ’ t have dithering here , ” he said .
“ This needs to be dealt with in an executive way , quickly.
” Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat and an equally novel solution , the State ’ s systems for planning and managing mass immunisation programmes are to be tested like never before .
Having battled the disease , is Ireland ready for the vaccine ?

Before vaccines, pandemics ended very differently. There was, explains a senior Irish drugs industry expert, a “social end to a pandemic”. Either a virus mutated, becoming less harmful, or it brutally worked its way through a population that had stopped trying to contain it.
“The Black Death didn’t end in one day, people just got fed up of staying in their houses,” observes the industry figure. Today, however, it is not the 14th century, and society’s attitudes to managing and ending pandemics have changed.
Covid-19 vaccines are now centre stage, with up to 10 expected to be approved in Ireland, coming in on a tide of extraordinarily encouraging data about how effective they may be. But the suppression of the virus brings new challenges.
Hospital Report
The World Health Organisation's Dr Michael Ryan says vaccines will not mean zero Covid-19, but they will be an additional "powerful tool" for controlling the virus. Video: WHO
Vaccinating for Covid-19, industry insiders say, is utterly different to what has gone before. Every year, Ireland vaccinates hundreds of thousands against the flu. However, that process is, by comparison, straightforward.
READ MORE
The State agrees a tender with one company, and vaccines are flown in and distributed around the country through GPs and pharmacies. There are no onerous storage requirements, it is administered in one dose, and there is usually ample supply.
Covid-19 vaccines are different. For starters, there’s not just one; Ireland is party to six bulk-buying contacts negotiated by the European Union – which, if the vaccines are approved, could see upwards of nine million doses for the State.
“[There are] six vaccines, which may or may not all get authorisation; if they do they’ll come on stream at different times, [and] different vaccines may be more suitable for different populations,” a senior political source involved in planning said.
Hugely complex programme
Everyone accepts that this vaccination programme is hugely complex, unlike anything before. But what does that mean? Some vaccines are based on novel technologies – specifically the messenger RNA method used by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna.
They must be stored at super-low temperatures – minus 80 and minus 20 degrees respectively. Others, those made by Belgian company Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca, are more traditional, and can be stored at fridge temperatures.
The latter vaccines can "plug into" the State's normal vaccines distribution system – the National Cold Chain Service, managed by United Drug for the HSE. However, the first ones available are those demanding ultra-low temperatures – BioNtech/Pfizer and Moderna.
Pfizer says there are three options for storing its vaccine: ultra-low temperature freezers that can store for six months; a Pfizer-made “thermal shipper” that can store doses for up to 30 days if dry ice is added every five days; or they can be stored for up to five days in normal fridge conditions.
Nine ultra-low temperature freezers bought by the HSE have been delivered in recent days to boost already-existing cold storage. Is this enough? We will see. Even if it is, the temperamental nature of some vaccines will mean that they will have to be given to patients differently than before.
Multiple sources on both the industry and State side say that mass vaccination centres will be needed for the super-cold options, or mobile units that will be sent to set up in hospitals, or care homes. The Defence Forces may be involved, too.
Who gets the vaccine first?
This week, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) prioritised hospital and nursing home workers, the elderly and those with underlying conditions in a letter to the National Public Health Emergency Team. Even within these groups, some will get the vaccine first.
There are some “known unknowns”, too. Some vaccines may be more or less effective for some age groups, or for those with underlying conditions, so the State may have to adjust mid-flight. Also, the Government has yet to decide how much of the population it wants inoculated.
The complexity does not end there. Given the speed of development, these vaccines do not come in pre-packaged syringes. Instead, they will come in bulk: “That raises the question of whether we have enough needles and syringes,” says a well-placed industry source.
The HSE must also train enough vaccinators, but this is more complicated than it sounds, since some vaccines require two precisely-timed doses. Here, the Government is confident, but some in the drugs industry have doubts: “You can’t assume people will understand,” said one executive.
Ireland does not have a single national immunisation registry, either, which could make it more complicated to give multiple doses, since it must be clear who has got a first vaccine shot and when they should get a second.
“[Today], we’ve no idea who gets vaccinated; we know who is meant to, we know the priorities, but generally because there’s ample vaccine available, nobody’s too bothered. We don’t have the infrastructure in place that we can just plug in and use for the Covid vaccine,” said one executive.
Last month, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the HSE was "currently" working to procure a national immunisation information system" that would link with regional and national immunisation databases.
Such a system would be “important”, though decisions are still be made about whether a fully developed system must be put in place ahead of the immunisation programme, “or whether a satisfactory interim solution” could be adopted.
Such a database, sources say, would trace bad reactions to vaccines among events, if they happen. And they would do so in real time, perhaps allowing other people to be treated with different vaccines if issues emerge.
Meanwhile, there is the issue of compensating those who do react poorly to a vaccine, if there are any. While there is no reason to expect a higher than usual number, the publicity surrounding the rollout is likely to spur claims.
The Government, say a multitude of sources, now needs to introduce its promised no-fault compensation scheme before such claims materialise, or else it risks spending years and tens of millions of euro bogged down in litigation.
The Opposition in the Oireachtas is alive to these frailties. "We still use charts in hospitals, so how are we going to ensure that we can manage every single human being in this country [for vaccination]", said Labour leader Alan Kelly during the week.
Brexit
As reported by The Irish Times on Friday, the issue of Brexit has also been raised with drug manufacturers at length by the Departments of Transport and Health, concerned about the impact of potentially losing the landbridge across the United Kingdom.
All these issues, and more, are being examined by the State's Covid-19 taskforce, led by Prof Brian MacCraith. A huge variety of State agencies are represented on it, from the HSE to the Defence Forces to IDA Ireland, supported by external logistics experts.
Though the taskforce has been the focus of headlines, the HSE’s National Immunisation Office and the independent NIAC are key players, concentrating on supply chain logistics, staffing, monitoring and reporting, and information technology.
The HSE's procurement office, led by Sean Brosnan, will play a key role, alongside senior HSE officials such as assistant director of emergency management Tom McGuinness, director of community operations David Walsh and Dr Lorraine Doherty, national clinical director for Health Protection.
Given the unprecedented public attention on the rollout, and the complexity of the mobilisation required, political pressure is inevitable. Mr Kelly has already called for the appointment of a Cabinet Minister directly responsible.
Errors or delays are likely to carry a high political price. “This isn’t something that we can be laissez-faire about,” Mr Kelly said. “Everything has come a lot quicker. We can’t have dithering here,” he said. “This needs to be dealt with in an executive way, quickly.”
Under massive pressure, faced by a novel threat and an equally novel solution, the State’s systems for planning and managing mass immunisation programmes are to be tested like never before.
Having battled the disease, is Ireland ready for the vaccine?


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--Scotland: Under the twin shadows of Covid and Brexit

In Edinburgh , the silence is everywhere , in empty restaurants and deserted train stations , with people walking quickly @ @ @ @ @ and masks on .
With such silence , the conversations are all the more precious @ @ @ @ @ manager trying to keep a hotel running ; the elderly restaurant owner with a 30-year-old @ @ @ @ @ ; the fisherman who shrugs , and says , “ All we can do is @ @ @ @ @ .
”

In Edinburgh, the silence is everywhere, in empty restaurants and deserted train stations, with people walking quickly by, heads down, and masks on. With such silence, the conversations are all the more precious.
There is the hotel manager trying to keep a hotel running; the elderly restaurant owner with a 30-year-old business left reeling by Covid-19; the fisherman who shrugs, and says, “All we can do is try and help each other.”
In November 2020, Scotland feels much like Ireland; a once-familiar world changed irrevocably by coronavirus. As each has confronted the effects of pandemic, so too each has had to confront Brexit.
Melisha Squire and Lesley Blues in the centre of Edinburgh: “Nicola Sturgeon has done such a good job, ” says Ms Blues. “But that doesn’t mean I want independence.” Photograph: Freya McClements
With less than a month to go until the end of the transition period, everything still remains unclear – the shape of a United Kingdom/European Union trade deal, and its consequence, or whether there will be one at all.
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The ripples flowing from Brexit have impacted on the constitutional questions that could face the island of Ireland and Scotland, depending on the decisions that are made by small group of people in powerful positions in the week ahead.
"Brexit, Covid and Boris", as one independence supporter put it, have coalesced to create, for the first time, a "consistent majority" for Scottish independence, says Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde.
“Since June, at least 14 polls in a row have put the Yes side ahead, leading by, on average, 54 per cent to 46. This is unprecedented. There has never, ever been a previous period where there has been consistent majority support for Yes.”
With elections to the Scottish parliament to be held in May, the Scottish National Party (SNP) and others argue that those elections offer an opportunity for a majority of Scotland's voters to make the case at the ballot box for a second independence referendum.
London’s contempt
"We stand ready to rebuild," says senior Scottish government minister Michael Russell MSP, cabinet secretary for the constitution, Europe and external Affairs, "Who do you trust to take that issue forward, and with whom will you take it forward?
“Will you take it forward with a Scottish government that has the ambition to have Scotland as an independent part of the EU and to work in partnership with others?” he said to The Irish Times this week.
“Or will you trust to take it forward a UK government that is increasingly insular, increasingly separate from others of like mind, and increasingly contemptuous of Scottish democratic institutions? That’s where I think we stand. That’s the choice Scotland has.”
That is one perspective; the Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins talks the need to rebuild, too, but argues that talking about future constitutional battles when coronavirus is not yet defeated is "deeply irresponsible".
“The public health emergency has been a profound shock not only to the economy but to society at large. We need time to heal from that, we need time to recover and rebuild before we start thinking about dividing the country again,” he declares.
Pandemic or not, however, Scottish independence is firmly on the table. The question is what happens next. Westminster must agree to the holding of a second referendum, by ceding powers to Edinburgh to hold one.
Here, however, the British government, for once, perhaps, has been consistently clear. “The question of Scottish independence was settled decisively in 2014, when Scotland voted to remain part of the UK.”
However, Russell rejects the argument: “If the people of Scotland vote democratically next year for a referendum, the terms of which they will know, that is, in my view, in accord with what is the legal situation in Scotland, which is the sovereignty of the Scottish people.”
Sovereign power
Faced with such a vote, it would be morally difficult and internationally inconvenient for Boris Johnson to ignore such a mandate, says Russell: "I hope Boris Johnson will prove himself to be a democrat not a Trumpian. If the Scottish parliament can pass that Bill then he should accept that."
"There's certainly an intellectual and constitutional argument about that, whether it would prevail in practice is another matter," says Prof Michael Keating, chair in Scottish politics at the University of Aberdeen. In the end, the UK Supreme Court will decide, he argues.
Others within the SNP are exploring “Plan B” options. Here, Russell will not be drawn. “The Scottish people are sovereign. The best way to do this beyond doubt is to make sure that the UK government works in a democratic fashion. If it does not, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
The change in the independence debate, says Curtice, has been Brexit. In the Brexit referendum in 2016, 62 per cent of Scots voted Remain. Since then, those for or against independence have increasingly aligned with the Remain or Leave arguments.
The Brexit chaos of October 2019 drove support for independence to 49 per cent, says Curtice, among all Remain voters: “It’s as clear as it ever can be with polling data . . . the pursuit of Brexit was actually beginning now to undermine the aggregate level of support of the union.”
This year, support for independence has increased to 54 or 55 per cent; this time, “more or less evenly among Remain and Leave voters”, says Curtice. “Coronavirus has tipped us from basically a 50/50 situation to one where it looks as though there is a small but consistent majority for Yes.”
Health is a devolved matter; the pandemic has demonstrated as never before the literally life-or-death consequences of divergence from Westminster and has reinforced trust in Holyrood because “people regard them as more reliable”, says Keating.
This lesson has been enhanced by Sturgeon’s popularity, which gleams yet brighter when compared to Johnson’s. According to an Ipsos Mori poll for BBC Scotland last month, only 19 per cent of the Scottish public feel Johnson has handled the pandemic well; 74 per cent think Sturgeon has done so.
Leadership style
This is despite the reality of Scotland's performance. Data from the UK's statistics agencies – which count the number of deaths per 100,000 which mention Covid-19 on the death certificate – puts the Scottish rate at 98.5, compared to 105.9 in England, statistically a gap that is "not really significant", says public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally.
The difference, therefore, has been in style of leadership and presentational skill, with Sturgeon praised for showing up at the briefing podium day after day, unlike her counterpart in London.
“It’s been rhetorically low-key, talking to people, not talking at people, and she always ends up with some stuff about solidarity,” says Curtice. By contrast, the rhetoric from London has been “the world-beating test and trace app, the Moonshot . . . the UK government has then failed to match this rhetoric.”
Tomkins dismisses this, however: “The constitutional identity and the future of the country is bigger than any one person, whoever that is . . . This is not about the identity of the person who is prime minister for the time being.”
It is self-evident that a positive view of Sturgeon does not necessarily translate into support for independence. In politics, popularity ratings are fickle creatures that could be quickly eroded by Covid and Brexit.
And then there is the bitterness between the Sturgeon and Alex Salmond SNP camps over the Scottish government's handling of sexual harassment complaints against Salmond, and the outcome of the inquiry into that led by former Irish director of public prosecutions, James Hamilton.
Salmond was acquitted of charges of sexual assault earlier this year.
That said, it seems reasonable to infer that at least some of the popular support Sturgeon won during the coronavirus crisis will transfer to her party come the election.
“I think it’s been handled really well – and I’m not pro-SNP,” says one woman having a socially distanced coffee in a park in the centre of Edinburgh. “I think Nicola Sturgeon’s done a pretty brilliant job. It wouldn’t change my opinion on independence, but that doesn’t take away from what she’s done as a leader at a really difficult time.”
"She has done such a good job. I didn't rate her highly before," says Lesley Blues. "But that doesn't mean I want independence."
Emotive message
"When you look at her leadership skills in comparison to Boris Johnson, it would sway some people, the way she has conducted herself and handled things," says Dan Steele. He has always been pro-independence, and knows people who voted No in the last referendum who have since changed their minds. "London has so much control over us. We should be making these decisions ourselves."
This will change; for Keating, the election battles ahead will be fought not between the roughly half of the electorate who are pro-independence and pro-European, or the quarter who are Conservatives and support “a hard unionism and a hard Brexit”, but the quarter left “to play for, who are mostly Labour voters, who are in between the two”.
The main problem with unionism, says Keating, is that “they just don’t know. They can’t articulate what the union is for any more, they’re searching for some kind of message that’s more than just about technical issues over the currency and budget deficits, a big message, a more emotive message as well, and they’re finding it difficult to articulate that.”
Within Labour, the identity crisis is all the more marked, as the party struggles to find a coherent identity among those who are “hard union”, those who favour an enhanced devolution, and those who believe the best way forward is to grant and win another referendum.
Among the unionist parties there is much talk of polarisation in Scottish society and of the “complete failure to even listen to or consider the opinions and concerns raised”, says Labour MSP Neil Findlay. “Every issue from dog shit to international crime becomes a constitutional issue.”
Significantly, the recent increase in support for independence “has occurred in a vacuum . . . it’s occurred at a time when Scotland has not been debating the merits or otherwise of independence”, says Curtice.
In the context of coronavirus – when all governments have had to borrow extensively – many of the economic arguments made against independence have moved on, he argues; much will also depend on how Brexit plays out.
If 2020 has been an unprecedented year, 2021 appears uncertain, with so much in doubt. For now, everything remains unsettled, but the 12 months to come could lay foundations for decades to come.