[ad_1]
Tanáiste Leo Varadkar has said that the country will “definitely not” move to Level Three on March 5, when current restrictions expire.
Sources told the Irish Mirror that Varadkar told colleagues at a parliamentary party meeting that perhaps the country could move to Level Four in the Living with Covid-19 plan, but could not say for sure.
The Fine Gael leader said there are several factors to consider regarding what would happen on March 5.
These included daily case averages of five, seven and 14, numbers of hospitals and ICUs, the vaccination program and the situation in the north.
Mr Varadkar said he expects a gradual reopening of schools for students, as well as construction.
(Image: PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIEN BEHAL)
He said “all options” are being considered for the Leaving Cert exams.
The Tanáiste also said that the coronavirus “will probably be with us for eternity,” Fine Gael sources said.
And that was why it was important that between 70 and 80% of the population get vaccinated.
It is understood that he was critical of vaccine supplies and said “it was not the best moment in Europe.”
Sources said Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe said the public has really struggled the last three weeks with the restrictions and is desperate for positive news about vaccines.
He said the public needed to hear more from Brian McCraith, head of the vaccine task force.
Senator Martin Conway said the government needs to provide regular figures on the number of people quarantined in hotels in the future.
He said the public should also be informed about the number of people who were checked by gardai to see if they were complying with quarantine rules.
He said both were as important as constantly updated figures on the number of people who have been vaccinated.
Clare’s senator also agreed with TD Fergus O’Dowd, who suggested a national day of mourning for the thousands of Irish who lost their lives due to Covid-19.
Conway said that it is a day that should mark the dignity and respect of families who were unable to provide their loved ones with the funeral they would have liked.
Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan said he had been contacted by two directors of special schools and told the minister responsible for special education, Josepha Madigan, that they said they had not yet received guidance on the reopening.
He said they feel excluded from the process.
Numerous DTs criticized the European Commission’s decision to activate article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol to stop the flow of vaccines northward last week.
TDs wanted to be held accountable and to know exactly what happened and how.
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said what happened was very disturbing and “not good.”
But he cautioned against looking at who was to blame, saying there was “enough tension” that he didn’t want a “blame game” and that efforts should focus on rebuilding trust.
[ad_2]