Cllr Emer Tóibín: Government Priorities Laid Bare In Excessive Restrictions
Aontú Cllr. for Navan, Emer Tóibín has criticised the government’s questionable priorities underpinning their latest round of restrictions which are bound to have further negative effect on many people across this country.
Cllr Emer Tóibín: “At a cost of €1.5 billion to the taxpayer, and in a measure bound to stall the promises of Budget 2021, the country is now in this new ‘new’ Level 5 lockdown. Immediately, the heartlessness of the restrictions are coming into sharp focus. No household visits allowed, with the limited measure of a support bubble. 25 people can attend a wedding, then why not the same number at a family funeral. Religious services remain suspended across the South, whilst available in the North and across Europe. Pubs and restaurants are forced once again to compete with takeaways in providing takeaways to try keep themselves afloat. Retailers deemed non-essential are forced to close their doors, whilst Amazon continues to profiteer from the continued suspension of the retail sector.”
“These restrictions did not prioritise the grieving family members who have just a loved one, instead we are back to the days of picking who will be allowed bury their loved one. A wedding which can be postponed can go ahead with 25 people, but a funeral which cannot be postponed can only go ahead with 10 attendees. Who can fathom the logic or justification for this callous and illogical regulation. Amazon prioritised over small businesses. Religious services continually ignored and suspended. The government’s priorities have proven to be hard-hearted and warped and will come at great financial and emotional cost to the Irish people.”
