A vague five-point plan out of lockdown restrictions will not satisfy a compliant Irish public, many of whom are at breaking point, according to Independent TD Verona Murphy.

Deputy Murphy said,

“The Government messaging has been all over the place in the last number of weeks to the extent that the public have no light at the end of the tunnel. People have been locked in for the last six weeks. They have been compliant and they need to see the light “

“Last week they were told 15,000 tests a day were an essential requirement, to test, trace, and isolate to get out of lockdown. That moved to 100,000 a week. Now it’s five nebulous headings. People’s mental health and financial wellbeing are at major risk.”

“I welcome the Taoiseach’s intervention and commitment to delivering a roadmap, but for a roadmap to have any credibility it must place clear obligations with clear timelines within which to meet those obligations on the HSE/NPHET. All of these obligations and timelines must be published immediately. The Public are doing their part they need to be assured the people in charge are doing theirs.”

“The roadmap must be matched with crystal clear daily briefings such that the public can see that progress is been made”

“The Taoiseach primarily or a senior government minister must be central to these daily briefing in order to ensure political accountability. A communication model similar to that used in by Governor Cuomo in New York should be adopted.”

“This lockdown is costing between 200 million and 400 million currently a day, depending what economist you talk to. The public have already paid for the last recession through Government incompetence. They will not suffer and pay for another one”.