Leo Varadkar

[Tim_Riggins]

Nope, there’s fiscal space due to the strong performance of the economy and some (not enough in my view) prudence by the outgoing government.

Let’s see some Party manifestos where they actually have to grasp that we are going to go into deficit now to pay for this.

[Bisto]

What is a blueshirt?

[carryharry]

The reason for trolleys being full generally is because any ailment for a person with a medical card means they head straight to A&E.

Average Joe soap gets charged €100 per visit so generally makes sure he’s in need.

Think about it. It’s truly amazing that the demand for beds has disappeared this past few weeks, eh?

[Tim_Riggins]

Why are our A&Es empty right now? They’ve been that way for a fortnight. Any evidence of calamitous repercussions?

[tallback]

@caulifloweredneanderthal

… panic around him. Now, I hope Harris doesn’t suffer a similar fate when he eventually goes for a nap. I’d say the guy hasn’t slept in week but he’s doing wellYou’d have to say that whatever government is formed needs to keep Leo as Taoiseach and Harris in Health until we see the back of this at least

By all accounts FF think Martin should come in

[tallback]

@Horsebox

I think a new GE will be needed immediately after this settles down.

Completely agreed

[tallback]

@Arthur

…d to that it’s going to be tough for the likes of fg and the tories to ever say ‘we don’t have the money’, for things like housing, education, special needs services etc in the future seeing as they are literally producing billions out of their respective holes at the drop of a hat during this crisis.

About the equivalent of €15 billion extra per year with the current measures. That’s possible for a short-term fix but is fairly tasty to be baked into current spending each year

The bill from this period will be eye-watering

[Ashman]

The thing is that the whole world will by an large have this bill

[carryharry]

Doesn’t help us

[pulpfiction]

Sorry to hear that Harry, condolences

[Julio_Geordio]

So @Thomas_Brady thinks Leo should be doing more but wouldn’t skip walking his dog for a few weeks even though he was infectious. Am I up to date?

[tallback]

@Ashman

The thing is that the whole world will by an large have this bill

Yeah, which is good. My point is I’m not sure it’s the basis for a long-term solution unless matching tax-raising goes with it.

[binkybarnes]

@carryharry

The reason for trolleys being full generally is because any ailment for a person with a medical card means they head straight to A&E.

Average Joe soap gets charged €100 per visit so generally makes sure he’s in need.

Think about it. It’s truly amazing that the demand for beds has disappeared this past few weeks, eh?

No one heads straight to A & E unless they absolutely have to because it’s a horrendous experience for everyone involved. A medical card just means you get the horrendous experience for free.

A & E depts are relatively quiet now because hospitals have cancelled all elective surgeries and all non essential treatments. Hence the bed bottle neck at A&E has been eased. Nothing to do with spongers or travellers

[Thomas_Brady]

No. You’re way off…

[Tank]

@Tim_Riggins

SF as the largest party showed themselves incapable of leading and putting a coalition of the left together.

FF are the largest party in the Dail and have shown themselves incapable of leading and putting a coalition together.

There’s a centre-right wing majority in the Dail, there’s not a left-wing majority in the Dail but FF still can’t put a coalition together.

[Julio_Geordio]

One factor is definitely that Doctors are inclined to send people to A&E to err on the side of caution (and who could blame them) but obviously it has to be absolutely necessary now

[Special_Olympiakos]

Simon and Leo couldn’t manage a thing for 8 years in power but a few good speeches and visible hard work has all the simpletons fooled into thinking they’re great.

[TreatyStones]

@Tim_Riggins

Bed shortages” due to so many people having a free Medical Card and clogging up A&Es.

If most of these people who aren’t overcrowding A&Es really needed to be there we’d be seeing lots of untimely deaths right now.

The medical card was given en masse as a welfare state goodie i.e. an initiative of the caring left.

Apparently the reason there is no one on trolleys in Limerick is because they have 100 extra beds at the moment due to elective surgeries being cancelled in the short term. So the people are still coming, it’s just now they have somewhere to put them.

[johnnysachs]

Thanks for clearing that up. Easily the most plausible explanation I’ve heard.

[the_man_himself]

Yes, not a thing in 8 years except full employment and a booming economy