[ad_1]
The Minister of Reform and Public Expenditure has said that one of the reasons the country is in Level 5 restrictions is to give people “the best possible chance to have a decent December and a decent Christmas.”
Michael McGrath, addressing a Cabinet meeting, said he hoped “we get to that point” and that there are some encouraging signs, but also that there is no room for complacency.
Yesterday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Medical Director Tony Holohan said there were some positive signs of Covid-19 transmission.
The issue of Irish citizens returning home for Christmas “has not yet been considered” by the Cabinet, McGrath said.
He said that when you see what is happening in other European countries, “we really don’t want to go there” and that was why people were being asked to make sacrifices.
Minister Michael McGrath also said the cabinet has not yet considered the issue of Irish citizens returning home for Christmas, but said the current restrictions were designed to allow the country to have a “decent December and a decent Christmas.” @rtenews pic.twitter.com/lEHFxEVz9C
– Samantha Libreri (@SamanthaLibreri) October 28, 2020
The minister also said that there has been no request from the Northern authorities to use the UCI’s capacity here, but that if such a request is made it will be given “very serious consideration.”
The Transport Minister said the government wants a test system at airports not just for Christmas but beyond to make it easier for people to travel.
Eamon Ryan said the government wants to give people a chance to test and “release them for the two-week rule.”
Addressing the cabinet meeting this morning, Ryan said that tests at the airport were also necessary to ensure connectivity to the island and so that people who need to travel can do so safely.
He said that the government wanted this but that it was about implementing the policy.
There are some encouraging signs in relation to the Covid-19 numbers but this is not the time to be complacent, the Minister of Reform and Public Expenditure warned | Read more: https://t.co/CNmH8NACBQ pic.twitter.com/guxeTLhQrD
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 28, 2020
When asked about the CervicalCheck tribunal, Minister McGrath said that the Minister of Health is genuinely interested in working with the 221 + plus group and taking into account their concerns about the Cervical Check tribunal.
McGrath said the government is “trying to help here” and not doing anything against the wishes of the people who have been hardest hit by the problem.
Expect Stephen Donnelly to update cabinet members on the matter today.
Regarding homes for mothers and babies, he said the legislation passed last week was never intended to cause so much anger and anxiety.
Putting the records out of the reach of the people was not the effect of the legislation, the minister said.
He said there are pending issues regarding access to records and tracing, but that the Cabinet is determined to resolve them.
We need your consent to upload this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage additional content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Review your data and accept it to load the content.Manage preferences
[ad_2]