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If all goes well, the sun will set in November and the police will be able to poke their noses out of pork chops.
But there is not much confidence around Dáil Éireann that this will happen.
Some TDs fear that temporary “draconian” laws meant to keep innkeepers and their customers on the right side of heavy Covid-19 restrictions will remain in place after the time limit runs out, despite an expiration clause. in legislation to allay concerns the pub food militia squads are about to be unleashed on a trembling population.
They will use their strong powers of execution to identify and hunt down a new underclass of cocktail sausage criminals and serial criminals who sing songs in the lounge bars of Ireland.
But to allay concerns that this measure represents the government’s first steps toward establishing a communist-style police state and dictatorship (yes, Danny Healy-Rae, we’re looking at it), the stay clause is there to avoid concerns. . Along with an option to refinance the bill if necessary when November rolls around. Everything will depend on the situation of Covid.
So will the cut-off clause go into effect? Or will it turn around forever?
“I just don’t know,” said the Minister of Justice, to the grim discontent of the independent deputies who are already complaining about the government’s boot on the backs of rural publicans.
The new law is not yet in effect and the Gardaí are around the place inspecting mixed grills and meat teas. And they can’t even be expected to eat them all
However, Helen McEntee hopes that all pubs can reopen when the new “roadmap” to deal with the pandemic is released in a couple of weeks. Road map? Sure that’s just rubbing it off when decent folks can no longer drive around their local neighborhood for a pint without getting scrutinized by Shane Ross’s Transportation Stasi.
Mattie McGrath from Tipperary was very upset. As were the Healy-Raes. With a short-lived reservation and understatement, Danny declared, “I’m very angry with what’s going on.”
Hungry Covid Gods
Things are bad enough already, and that’s even before you get to the plight of those publicans who have been closed for over six months because they don’t have a properly priced food offer to appease the starving Covid gods.
The new law is not yet in effect and the Gardaí are around the place inspecting mixed grills and meat teas. And you can’t even expect them to eat them all.
Members of Rigs and the Regs (Independent Rural Group and Independent Regional Group) have endless stories to tell about the situation as it currently prevails, counting with personal stories from publicans every hour of the day and night.
Mattie was still recovering from one of her most recent communications.
“I received an email this morning from two Gardaí visiting a local looking at the dishes to see if the pork chop, or the hamburger or the pizza was valued at € 9,” he informed Dáil during a debate on amendments to the new measures. . “Well, I would know after eating it what it was worth, but the Gardaí are not qualified to know if what is in a plate is worth € 9, € 6.50 or € 4.50”.
We are not quite sure about that. Any garda we meet has always had a keen and up-to-date knowledge of current price levels at local nosheries.
Mattie later revealed that someone at NPHET told her that the idea of a € 9 meal as a means of gargling in a pub never occurred to her. “It’s ridiculous and childish.”
No. He’s not happy at all.
“The Government is hanging a rope in front of the publicans, but in addition to that, it is tying two hands behind its back and bandaging one eye,” he criticized.
Emergency changes
Along with the vast majority of his colleagues in Dáil, he voted to support the original emergency legislation that was rushed in when the pandemic struck and no one knew what might happen. But not now, when there has been time to reflect on how parts of society, particularly rural pubs, have been damaged by emergency changes.
“We have all been good citizens here. We have bought this, but people are tired and weary and this is going to backfire spectacularly for you, Minister … We all have to stay safe and respect the virus, but we also have to live, ”he told McEntee. that he was not in favor of activating requests to modify the legislation.
“You are not allowing people to live and here is Big Brother and he is diabolical. It is a shame. It’s disgusting. These are GUBU days, to be honest, and I totally oppose and resent the cocky way you are doing this here. It’s disgusting, ”Mattie thundered.
Michael McNamara wondered if the particular focus on pubs (when meat factories, for example, remain open) has less to do with risk and more to do with “moral disgrace and our disapproval of certain behavior.”
Clare’s Independent TD emphasized, “I’m not a Covid denier, not for a minute,” which was good to know, given that he’s the chairman of the Dáil Covid Committee. But he believes the government’s draconian pub policy is sucking the life out of rural Ireland.
It’s time to mention the Tánaiste like this, still gleefully pronouncing himself a Taoiseach on the Covid situation. It did not escape McNamara’s attention that Leo Varadkar allegedly told his parliamentary party “that Ireland is completely out of place with all other European states.”
Armed with this supporting evidence, he wondered what is different about the pandemic here, besides that we are “more draconian with restrictions” than “have failed,” leaving us with numbers similar to countries where pubs remained open.
Kerry’s innkeepers are “totally dismayed,” reported Michael Healy-Rae. “Whether it’s from Currans, to Cahersiveen and anywhere in between, they’re upset. They are upset that lawmakers here are trying to propose how to close them before we allow them to open. It just doesn’t make sense. “
Labor Brendan Howlin is in favor of closing premises where rules are ignored, but argued that the legislation is unclear on how and where the gardaí can enforce these new powers. It also doesn’t allow a tavern keeper to challenge a closure order without requesting a judicial review, which would cost a fortune.
Dishonest operators
But despite all the screams from others about dictatorships and the persecution of bar owners, there was a contrary that these laws are sadly necessary to eradicate rogue operators who abuse the situation when the vast majority of the companies act within the rules.
Wine growers who can’t open are looking at this carry-on and asking for something to be done about it. “I accept and understand that this is what the bill will do,” Martin Kenny said, explaining why Sinn Féin generally supports it.
Government deputies felt the measures were necessary for the sake of justice. To stop scenes of “drinking ad lib and dancing on counters,” as Fine Gael’s Bernard Durkan put it.
But where is the hope? Asked the Social Democrat Catherine Murphy. The Government has gone from appealing to the best nature of the people “to a more punitive approach.” People will have to live with the virus, but the new approach of ‘if you don’t do this, this is what we’ll do to you’ doesn’t bring people the idea that we should all learn to live with the virus.
It’s almost reassuring to have a “Valley of the Slitted Windows” attitude. “I have to say that I think we need to stop and think about exactly what damage is being done besides Covid.”
In the meantime, watch out for the pork chop police and pin your hopes on November.
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