Covid-19: Groundhog day feeling surrounds possible easing of restrictions

Good morning.

If you feel like its groundhog day in the political world, you’re almost certainly not alone. The pandemic has a grip on business in Leinster House, and the speculation around the easing of restrictions will only increase between now and next week.

In truth we know pretty much what will be subject to change as it has been well flagged over the last number of weeks – retail, barbers, construction and possibly religious services.

The missing piece of the jigsaw is still the supply of Covid-19 vaccines and the possible constraints around their use in different age groups.

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After a bruising weekend, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will take to his feet in the Dáil shortly after 1pm today to answer questions on the progress of the vaccination campaign.

Last weekend Mr Donnelly floated the idea of vaccinating younger cohorts at an earlier stage, only for the notion to be promptly shot down within Government and by the deputy chief medical officer.

Opposition TDs probably won’t pass up the chance to question him on those events, but the bigger story is elsewhere today, specifically with the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac).

The emerging message from Government last night was that availability of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine is vital if the State is to hit its target of offering at least one dose to 80 per cent of adults by the end of June.

Niac will meet today to discuss that vaccine’s use and will also consider the possibility of extending the period between the two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which would enable more first shots to be given.

As we report in our lead today, Niac has said "any new recommendations are currently expected to be issued to the Department of Health next week".

But there is pressure from Government to issue an opinion after today’s meeting.

“Senior officials at meetings yesterday, including Niac chair Prof Karina Butler, were told of the urgency of the situation, according to people briefed on the discussions. Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan is understood to have said he expected Niac’s advice after the meeting on Thursday and to make recommendations to the Government on Friday.”

Such haste is unsurprising. Time is of the essence, after all. Ministers appear to be more and more concerned that case numbers are plateauing at a time when the vaccination campaign is hitting multiple stumbling blocks.

Which leads us to another interesting line in our lead story about comments Mr Varadkar made in a webinar hosted by Goodbody stockbrokers. He said that amid fears in Government that cases may rise in the coming days, he was “not as confident as I might have been a few days ago” about the pace of reopening.

As the Government has learned only too well over the last year, when it comes to restrictions, it must take every day as it comes in this pandemic. Even if it does feel like groundhog day.

Watt appointment story lingers on

It’s a story that has been simmering away for weeks and shows no signs of cooling off: the appointment of the new secretary general of the Department of Health Robert Watt.

As Cormac McQuinn reports today, Mr Watt is being asked to explain how his waiving of some of the €292,000 salary that comes with his new job will work.

The Cabinet approved his appointment this week. Afterwards it was announced he would waive a salary increase of more than €80,000 that comes with the job until the economy begins to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

The Oireachtas Committee on Finance has agreed to write to Mr Watt seeking information including details over how the arrangement will affect his pension.

The issue came up at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting as well when Senator Jerry Buttimer raised concern about the “optics” of the appointment. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar is understood to have told the private meeting that he hopes Mr Watt waiving a portion of the salary will take the sting out of the issue. Time will tell.

Best reads

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Playbook

Dáil business kicks off at 10am with statements on direct provision. Minister for Children and Integration Roderic O’Gorman will be in the chamber.

Leaders’ Questions will be taken at midday, and this is followed by Questions on Promised Legislation. As mentioned, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will answer questions on the vaccine rollout just after 1pm.

There is a Government motion on the extension of pandemic business supports and later, at the very precise time of 17.39pm, a motion on the European Defence Agency.

For Private Members' Business, the Independent Group will bring on the common agricultural policy reform. The Dáil will adjourn before 9.30pm. The full schedule can be found here.

All three committees on the agenda are meeting in private, so it will be another quiet day there.