Leaders' Questions: Mary Lou McDonald demands assurances that income supports will continue as society reopens. She says there can't be one rule for those on PUP and another for former taoisigh, or senior civil servants, who are having previous cuts undone
Not for the first time, the Taoiseach says there will be "no cliff edge for supports" but also links them to economic revival which in turn is linked to suppression of virus.
"We are in a much better position than was anticipated, or was modelled, and that's good"
McDonald acknowledges that fewer will be dependant on PUP as society reopens, but wants assurance that for as long as some people are out of work because of public health advice for their sectors, those sectors "retain the full level of support that has been afforded to them"
Supports will continue until the end of June and "there will be no cliff edge", the Taoiseach says; he talks about how the Govt will take efforts to revive and stimulate those last parts of the economy but nothing more by way of detail
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Tánaiste says his two major themes for this evening are "hope" and "caution";
Varadkar says he has a sense of deja vu - it was the May bank holiday weekend last year when he announced plans for the reopening of the country - but the difference now is vaccines.
He finishes quoting Einstein: "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."
Govt online advice does say one of the next steps is "preparation for the safe reopening of cinemas and theatres in June subject to public health advice"
"The good news is that the strategy is working. Because of you hard work and sacrifices, we are now in a better place."
"By tonight, more than 1. 5 million vaccine doses will have been administered. That means close to 30% of everyone over 16 has received one dose of a vaccine."
MAY 10
🚗 Intercounty travel
🏡 Household visits, 3 households - indoors only if vaxxed
💈 Personal services
⛪️ 50 at worship
🛍 Click & collect (full reopening later in May)
⚽️ Adult training
With the caveat that Cabinet isn’t meeting until the afternoon, and these could still change - these are the other *proposals* going for approval today:
ALSO MAY 10:
👨👩👧👦 Outdoor gatherings of 15
🏛 Museums, galleries
👰🏻 50 guests at wedding ceremony
(6 at indoor reception, 15 outdoor)
🚎 Public transport 50% capacity
JUNE 7:
👰🏻 25 at receptions
🏨 Hotel bars and restaurants (residents only)
🏠 Indoor visits from one household
Taoiseach doesn't tell Dáil whether Ireland will support a vote to invoke the '#TRIPSwaiver' - effectively suspending intellectual property rights on the manufacture of Covid-19 vaccines - at a meeting of the World Trade Organisation this Friday
Taoiseach said the idea would have to be examined "in some detail" - but seems to cast doubt on whether the pharma industry's co-ordinated response to Covid-19 (in contrast to SARS in 2003) would happen again in future if IP rights were suspended or waived - then his time elapsed
He was replying to a series of opposition TDs who wanted Ireland to back a waiver at this Friday's meeting of the WTO Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
They see it as necessary to help southern hemisphere countries increase vaccine production.