Breakfast Briefing

New restrictions have been unveiled by the Government to contain the spread of Covid 19 and will remain in place until at least the end of January.

All schools are to remain closed, with an exception for leaving cert students, who will attend classes three days a week.

All construction, with some exceptions must cease until January 31st.

It comes as A record 7,836 cases of Covid 19 have been reported and 17 additional deaths.

Prof Gerry Killeen, AXA Research Chair in Applied Pathogen Ecology at University College Cork, who is a member of the Independent Scientific Advocacy Group joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing:

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Over 5,000 musicians and road crew are without work for exactly 300 days today because of Lockdowns and as a result, many have left the entertainment industry to find work elsewhere.

The music and live events industry was the first to close and will be the last to re-open, according to the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI).

They say March 13th was the day the music died in Ireland and it has been the sound of silence ever since.

While Government has provided universal supports for other industries affected by COVID-19, the music and entertainment industry has been forced to compete with other sectors for funding.

Jackie Conboy from the MEAI joined Shane Beatty:

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A grim milestone was reached last night as Ireland crossed the 100,000 coronavirus cases mark.

There are stark warnings from health chiefs and Dr Tony Holohan to stay home amid spiralling hospital and ICU admissions.

The Department of Health has been notified of 4,962 new cases and seven further deaths.

It brings the number of Covid-19 cases in Ireland to 101,887 while the number of people who have died from the virus has reached 2,259.

People are being urged to work from home, there is still a question mark over whether schools will actually reopen next Monday, and Minister Eamon Ryan told Newstalk yesterday the exercise travel limit could be reduced from 5 km to 2 kilometres.

Shane Beatty was joined by Professor Anthony Staines, Professor of health systems at DCU and founder of The Independent Scientific Advocacy Group:

 

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Young people in Ireland are being encouraged to open up about their mental health over the Christmas period if they are feeling anxious, disappointed, lonely, or sad.

Hundreds of trained volunteers with ‘50808’ the free, anonymous, 24/7 text support service will be available around the clock over Christmas and the New Year to listen to anyone who is feeling overwhelmed, missing loved ones or who are going through a tough time at home.

CEO of 50808 and spunout.ie, Ian Power joined Shane Beatty:

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The Irish Travel Agents Association is calling on the Government to clarify if they qualify for the Covid Recovery Support Scheme.

Travel agents are classed as non-essential retail and will be permitted to open under new restrictions; however for all intents and purposes travel agents have remained closed since last March due to fears surrounding the spread of COVID-19.

The Irish travel sector has been drastically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; since March 2020 the industry is down by 95%.

Michael Doorley president of the ITAA joined Shane Beatty:

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