Its the second part of this headline that tells you so much; which has led to the brazen confidence of the long arm of the claw of the first part, which is now so secure in its hold on the neck of its victim that it can openly state '3 months further closure' without fear of retribution (which equals one big step closer to finally wiping out all those small to medium size businesses which was always a premier purpose behind this policy in teh first place). 3 months in which to make everyone who refuses to vaccinate not just an enemy of the state but an enemy of the people - and so we move now from 'you want people to die!' to 'you also want me to become impoverished!' And of course come the 3 months being up, they will ring their hands, move the goal posts again and say its those 30-40% of holders out - or whatever the figure is by then - that means we will have to remain in level blah, blah, blah...
And so it goes on.
And so it goes on.
Varadkar says businesses should plan to remain closed for three months
Business groups react with air of resignation
Leo Varadkar: he said he knew businesses wanted certainty, which he could not offer, so the best thing for them to do was to plan “that this will be a three-month period”. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has advised businesses that are closed at present to plan to remain closed for the first quarter of this year.
The overriding objective for the Government was to protect public health and education, he told RTÉ Radio’s News at One on Thursday. When it was possible restrictions on businesses would be eased as they were closed, with sectors such as construction returning first, and moving down the list to non-essential retail.
Mr Varadkar said he knew businesses wanted certainty, which he could not offer, so the best thing for them to do was to plan “that this will be a three-month period”.
Business groups representing retail and hospitality reacted with an air of resignation to the Tánaiste’s prediction of a shutdown for the entire first quarter, given the scale of the public health challenge with galloping infection rates.
The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (Itic) said Mr Varadkar’s prediction was a surprise to it but “we understand the virus numbers have gone crazy”.
Its board is due to meet on Friday morning, when it will discuss the development.
“If businesses are going to shut for up to three months you have to make sure that they are still in existence at the end of that period,” said Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, Itic’s chief executive.