QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“If you’re preparing for an outbreak or a pandemic, the Irish healthcare system isn’t where you’d want to start. The reality is we had 500 patients on trolleys yesterday, waiting for hospital beds.”
— Tony Fitzpatrick, of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, on our readiness for an escalation of the Covid-19 situation.
“It is a false hope to say it will just disappear in summertime, like the influenza virus... There is no evidence right now to suggest that will happen.” — Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organisation’s emergencies programme.
“There is legislation which provides us with the necessary powers to act accordingly to protect the public [but that is] an extreme scenario, we don’t see that in the immediate future.”
— Garda Commissioner Drew Harris speaking about the State’s powers to detain people who refuse to selfisolate for Covid-19.
“We are not recommending at this stage that any major events be cancelled, but that will be kept under review...”
“We may have to ask retired health care professionals to come back into service if there are significant pressures on our health service in the weeks ahead...”
“By Monday we should have a clear solution on what we are going to do in providing income supports to workers who are asked to self-isolate.”
— Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on the unfolding contagion.
“I have coronavirus but it hasn’t been too bad — and it doesn’t have to be a terrible calamity.”’
— 68-year-old Carl Goodman who caught the virus on a cruise ship.
“It’s not important what famous people say... why me? I wear a baseball cap and have a bad shave. I’m concerned like everyone else. I live on this planet and I want it to be safe and healthy, I wish everybody the best, absolutely — but my opinion on coronavirus is not important.”
— Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s incredulous reply when asked his opinion on the virus after his side’s third defeat in two weeks.
“It was cool playing with them. I think Kate was better, she had powerful shots.”
— 10-year-old Fionn ,of Salthill Knocknacarra GAA, on hurling with the royals.
“We must not let Brexit define us or define Europe. Yes, it is defining the UK, and probably will for the next few decades. But we are in control of our destiny, and we must decide how we want to shape it.”
— Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking at Trinity College.
“I think lack of talent was her problem. She has a tremendous lack of talent.” — US President Donald Trump talking about Elizabeth Warren’s departure from the race to be the US Democratic candidate.