Mandatory hotel quarantine: more political necessity than public health imperative?

Good morning.

Two months after it was announced, the Government’s mandatory hotel quarantine operations swung into action yesterday.

Well, almost. The first bookings were made, and the first guests of the nation will arrive next Friday. As of then, any travellers arriving from a list of 33 countries deemed high risk, or anyone arriving without a negative PCR test, will be required to quarantine at a State-designated hotel at their own expense.

Government has indicated the list of countries will soon be expanded; the Opposition continues to call for universal mandatory hotel quarantine for all incoming travellers.

Walk-in testing to be introduced in areas with high incidence of Covid

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EU showdown looms with UK over 30m AstraZeneca doses

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Q&A: Will schools reopen fully after Easter?

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Brazilian variant P1 almost as prevalent in Ireland as UK

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Jennifer Bray's report on the new arrangements is here.

It might be added at this stage that most people in Government believe this is a political necessity rather than a public health imperative: they point out that almost everyone arriving has a negative PCR test anyway. But they accept the need to be seen to tighten the borders – or some of them anyway.

But our lead story this morning is on vaccine-related issues – specifically the ongoing rows between the EU and AstraZeneca over supplies.

Naomi O’Leary reports Brussels believes that up to 30 million doses of the vaccine are about to be shipped from Italy to the UK – and that the Italian government may move to block the export. These and related issues will be discussed by the remote summit of EU leaders tomorrow, but the state of anger, panic and exasperation in the EU over the vaccine issue, as cases rise in many countries, can hardly be overestimated right now.

There was better news here on the numbers of new infections last night, with 371 new cases – meaning that so far at least the feared surge of cases after Mother's Day and St Patrick's Day hasn't really got going.

But Ministers and officials are watching the daily numbers nervously, and there is worry about the prevalence of the Brazilian variant.

Elsewhere, former government minister Gemma Hussey got vaccinated.

The best little climate Bill in the world

Yesterday was a big day for the Green Party, with the publication of the Government’s revised Climate Action Bill.

The Bill was – naturally enough – hailed by its promoters as a historic step, instituting legally binding targets for this and future governments to achieve a 50 per cent drop in carbon emissions by 2030, and total carbon neutrality by 2050. Most ambitious in the world, said Eamon Ryan.

In his analysis, Environment and Science Editor Kevin O'Sullivan does not disagree – though he warns the targets will be monstrously difficult to achieve.

And critics were quick to point out the Bill does not mandate how those targets are to be achieved. Many people think the targets are unrealisable, and they are certainly very difficult without huge changes in economic life – although lots of people believe that is entirely necessary.

Whether they will be happy with the measures required to achieve it is another question entirely – think about the likely opposition to carbon tax increases.

But it was a good day for the Greens; this is why the party entered Government. Leader Eamon Ryan may be less pleased at the media focus on his party chairwoman Hazel Chu, now running for the Seanad (against the wishes of the party leadership) as an independent candidate.

But that is a small thing; the climate Bill is a big thing. It is in the nature of politics, however, to mix up the two. Expect Opposition parties to tear strips off the Bill this morning.

Best reads

Conor Gallagher continues the strange tale of the gardaí busting into the Central Mental Hospital.

Big jobs announcement last night from Intel.

Carl O'Brien asks: will the schools reopen after Easter?

Just what is the Covid plan, asks Michael McDowell. Can someone please explain it?

Playbook

The Dáil is back in the Convention Centre this morning and will debate a Sinn Féin Private Members’ Bill to create a new State body to manage what it calls the historical quarter around Moore Street, which includes the GPO and associated 1916 sites.

After that it is Leaders' Questions at noon, before statements on the European summit, Government legislation (Family Leave Bill and Residential Tenancies Bill) and transport questions. Full details are here.

Later, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will hold their parliamentary party meetings in the evening. Always worth tuning in.

And the Republic of Ireland start the road to World Cup qualification tonight vs Serbia. Optimism is not exactly boundless.