Government Accused of Hiding Behind Dr. Tony Holohan As Pressure Mounts for Level Two Christmas

The government has been accused of hiding behind Dr. Tony Holohan and fearing political failure as pressure mounts for a Level Two Christmas.

Fianna Fáil’s TDs are divided on what Taosieach Micheál Martin should do next.

But Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness has said that there is a lack of common sense and that the government must trust that the public is responsible.

He told the Irish Mirror: “I will not single out Micheál because all these things are cabinet decisions, but it is certainly true that the government is scared in terms of political failure.

“Sometimes they hide behind the advice that the CMO gives them when they should follow that advice and then act as decision makers.

“The only missing ingredient in all of this is common sense.

“I would say that the government is afraid of political failure, that is all it fears and a lack of leadership.

“There is no plan for life with Covid and there is a lack of leadership and a lack of faith in people that they will act responsibly.”

McGuinness said pubs and businesses should be allowed to reopen, and spectators should be allowed into GAA games once the restrictions expire on Dec. 1.

He said innkeepers should be trusted to have the ability to adhere to social distancing measures.

He said: “I think the Irish people have done exceptionally well in both confinements, but now I think the tolerance of the confinement is wearing thin and there seems to be no plan to live with Covid.

“We should recognize that people will act responsibly and we should begin to relax restrictions with a plan to get to the point where we successfully live with Covid until the vaccine is deployed and completed.”

The Carlow-Kilkenny TD said that a new Living With Covid plan is needed, as the one in place needs to be reviewed to catch up with changes in the virus and society.

He said: “Yes, you have to have certain limitations and precautions, but banning everything and closing everything does not seem to be the long-term way in the interests of companies and people’s health.

“But if we are going to continue to monitor the state the way we do, we are going to lose the trust of the people.

“There will be a minority that breaks the rules and does what they please, but the minority cannot be allowed to dictate and be the example for the majority.”

Fianna Fáil’s TD Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said the government needs to get restrictions to be eased as a third wave of the virus and a third post-Christmas lockdown must be avoided.

She said: “I have big concerns for the companies, but we cannot give false hope, we have to watch the R number and get it right this time.

“We have to call it good because we cannot go back to another blockade in January or February.

“We have to put people’s lives and health first, listen to NPHET’s advice and be responsible.”

Jim O’Callaghan of Fianna Fáil said it is his opinion that we should aim for Level Two, but that the government should wait until closer to the end of the month to make a decision.

But some opposition parties differ.

Labor leader Alan Kelly said: “I think we have to be realistic because Christmas is a different period and I think people have been through so much that they will treat this differently than they did the summer.

“I am not saying that we will not return to a Level Three type situation in January, it may have to be the case, but I certainly believe that Level Two type activity is going to occur nationwide in December if the government allows or not.

“So they should face it and deal with it and focus people’s minds and give them guidance on how we’re going to do it instead of pretending it’s not going to happen.”

But the co-leader of the Social Democrats, Catherine Murphy, said a county-by-county approach should be considered.

She said: “I think we have to manage our exit and it may well be that different parts of the country are treated differently depending on the numbers.

“I don’t think we can sustain this type of yo-yo approach in and out of the lockdown it’s desperately disruptive, we should safely open what can be opened.”