TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has defended the government ‘s handling of the Covid – 19 crisis before Christmas despite the fact that Ireland now has the highest disease rate in Europe.
He argued that the strategy used was not “disgraceful”, but acknowledged that the government must take full responsibility for the recent increase in the number of cases.
But he identified the UK variable as an important driver in the affairs and distribution of Covid-19, particularly with thousands of people traveling to Ireland from England for the Christmas period.
However, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, many have criticized the government’s approach, saying that travel in and out of the country should be regulated much more tightly, and that the public should be allowed to close the three weeks of unrestricted ‘freedom’. steps shortly before the holidays were a big mistake.
Talking to Pat Kenny about it Newstalk Radio, the Taoiseach defended his government ‘s tactics, emphasizing that they have “always responded effectively” to compliance in caseloads.
“We had been in a very long period of restrictions of one kind or another, and entering the December period we had six weeks of Level 5,” said Martin.
“The socialization that came out in December is not in line with the new versions, and as Professor Paul Moynagh said, don’t underestimate the season of the virus.”
When asked if he thought it was a mistake to reopen gastropubs and restaurants in December – because they created the “perfect environment for the virus to spread, ”- Martin said he believed he had made the right choice, such as the public tolerance of locking. measures were wearing thin, and “compliance was weakening”.
He also said that housing provided an equal opportunity for the virus to spread.
“There are different levels at which you can place restrictions on people and that has become clear to us in the last two weeks [of Level 5 lockdown before Christmas], “he said.
“It would be very simple to focus on one area.”
Martin went on to say that overall, he believes that the measures put in place by his government have worked, as rates of the disease were very low in early December, but said that he was “ very difficult ”to close the Irish borders.
