Leaders' Questions: Alan Kelly points out challenge of meeting 82%-by-June vaccine target when much of the J&J inventory will not arrive until late June, and can now only be used for older population. Also points out that rollout must now hit 450k doses per week by end-June
Taoiseach tells Dáil that Ireland's highest delivery of Pfizer doses has arrived earlier today, containing 191,800 doses. @VirginMediaNews
Kelly suggests "the projections don't work out that way" - citing @Mark_Coughlan's sums on #rtept last night - and says the only way to meet 82% target would be to skip those between 50-60 for now, and come back to them when future larger J&J shipments come in
Taoiseach simply says the HSE is currently "operationalising" the latest advice and concedes the logistical demands of meeting the 82% target are "challenging"
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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.