Leo Varadkar came out in support of the Level 5 restrictions after raising severe criticisms against the NPHET. With that came the possibility of declaring restrictions equivalent to a complete lockdown in the country. The Deputy Prime Minister announced at the Fine Gael meeting that a level 5 circuit break is very possible.
This change of position was discussed throughout the political arena. Varadkar was criticised by various political parties for harshly criticising the health sector and the high level committee in the country. Following this, Mr. Varadkar changed his stand within 24 hours. It was on Monday that Varadkar made controversial remarks against the NPHET and Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan.
Varadkar said it was inevitable that COVID cases would rise in the next two to three weeks. There is no change in the level 3 restrictions. However, Varadkar had made it clear that the country was not ready to move to the lockdown as soon as NPHET recommended.
Many other countries in Europe currently have high COVID rates. Varadkar reiterated his earlier position that switching to a second lockdown was not recommended there.
But he did not rule out the possibility of a ‘circuit break’ lockdown. Varadkar made it clear that the voices raised around his opinion were of the fight between the people and the virus and not between the government and NPHET. He said the government and NPHET should reach the same position.
“We are all good people, we all want what is best for our country, we all want to save lives, we want to avoid long term damage that cost lives. And I think that’s the view of government and Nphet,” Tánaiste said.
Meanwhile, his spokesman said the Tánaiste was adamant in his remarks on RTÉ’s Claire Byrne show.
Mr. Varadkar was also sharply criticised by senior Fianna Fáil leaders, ministers and political leaders. One senior Fianna Fáil source said: “I don’t think he needed to go as far as he did. There was venom coming from his mouth at times I think he went too far maybe.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Varadkar’s aggressive approach was shocking.
Solidarity-PBP TD Paul Murphy said Varadkar was undermining public health advice in a very bad and dangerous way.
Meanwhile Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed that the Garda has no authority to take punitive action to prevent people from moving from county to county. However, he said it is foolishness to ignore the checkpoint.
Former Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy told a parliamentary party meeting that the National Emergency Coordination Group should be set up beyond NPHET to equip the country to deal with COVID-19.
Mr. Murphy pointed out that the group was able to work most effectively during the floods. He said it will help involve many stakeholders, from the Garda to the business department, in key decisions. The former minister said he expects COVID to be here for a long time. The party also demanded for the entire mechanism of how NPHET communicates with Government to change.