Page 6 - Irish Examiner USA

newsexaminer
6

2020 Mulvaney Says United States Cautious Optimism That
Donnelly Expresses
30th, Will ‘Protect And Defend’ Restrictions In Dublin
Are Working
September Good Friday Agreement

|
EXAMINER The Minister for Health has said

IRISH that he and the acting Chief
Medical Officer are “cautiously
optimistic” that the tighter restric-
tions in Dublin are working.
Stephen Donnelly said the vast
majority of people in Dublin are
following the public health restric-
tions put in place to curb the
spread of Covid-19.
Dublin and Donegal are cur-
rently subject to Level Three
restrictions under the
Government’s Covid-19 five-tier
response plan, with the rest of the
country at Level Two.
The stricter measures in place
in the capital include a ban on
indoor social gatherings; a require-
ment for pubs and restaurants to
only serve food outdoors, while
Taoiseach Micheal Martin greeting United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Michael Mulvaney at Government Buildings (Julien
Behal/PA) travel in and out of the county has
he United States “Concern would imply Mr. Mulvaney met Mr. underpin this engage- been limited to work, education
will “protect and that we’re worried and I Coveney on Monday morn- ment.” and essential purposes.
Tdefend” the Good don’t think we’re at that ing. Mr. Mulvaney also met Mr. Donnelly said public health
Friday Agreement, the point yet but we certainly Following the meeting, with the leader of the oppo- experts tracking the spread of
US Special Envoy to understand the interplay Mr. Coveney said the two sition and president of Sinn Covid-19 need the seven-day rate
Northern Ireland said. between the EU/UK trade men discussed the return of Fein Mary Lou McDonald of the virus to be less than half of
Mick Mulvaney said the deal and the Internal power-sharing in Northern during his visit to Dublin. the 14-day rate.
agreement could be “at Market Bill and the Good Ireland, the work that has On Sunday, he met Dublin’s 14-day incidence rate is
risk” because of the UK Friday agreement. resumed on a North-South Northern Ireland Secretary 147 positive cases per 100,000 pop-
Government’s controver- “That’s mostly while I’m basis and the challenges Brandon Lewis in Belfast. ulation, while its seven-day rate is
sial Internal Market Bill, here. I have not been able arising in the context of Speaking afterwards, he 78.
but that it was something to be here previously Covid-19 and of Brexit. said he believed the UK and “What we want to start seeing
the United States was “very because of Covid.” “I emphasized our real the European Union could is the seven-day rate becomes less
interested in seeing not He told RTE News that concern at the current still reach a trade deal that than half of the 14-day rate and
happen”. the Good Friday approach of the UK would be acceptable to all that shows that it is plateauing,”
He made the comments Agreement could be “at Government and the vital sides. Mr. Donnelly told RTÉ.
on a visit to Dublin on risk”. importance of the full The former acting chief “The Chief Medical Officer [Dr.
Monday where he met with He said: “I don’t think it implementation of the of staff to US President Ronan Glynn] and I have have
the Taoiseach Micheál necessarily follows that just Withdrawal Agreement Donald Trump took up the been speaking on exactly this point
Martin and Foreign Affairs because the UK introduced and the Protocol on position of special envoy in over the weekend, we will be cau-
Minister Simon Coveney. the Internal Markets Bill Ireland/Northern Ireland, March. tiously optimistic as we must
His visit comes as the that automatically means for the protection of the An Irish American with always be, but it is very early days.
British government the Good Friday Good Friday Agreement strong links to Co Mayo, “We want to see that seven-day
rebuffed a fresh demand Agreement is at risk. and the achievements of this is his first trip to rate come down each and every
from the EU to withdraw “But I think anyone who the peace process,” Mr. Ireland in his new role.
the Internal Market Bill, looks at the situation Coveney said. The diplomatic role had day.
which could see the UK understands there could be “Those achievements remained vacant since for- “I have no doubt the people of
unilaterally tear up ele- a series of events that could were made possible by the mer US senator Gary Hart Dublin have heard this loud and
ments of the Brexit divorce put the Good Friday sustained engagement of left the position in 2017 clear, and in the vast majority of
deal. Agreement at risk. successive US administra- when Donald Trump took cases people are doing what they
Mr. Mulvaney said the “Again something we’re tions and special envoys, power. are supposed to do, limiting their
US was watching the very interested in seeing and friends of Ireland Later in the week, Mr. interactions.”
EU/UK negotiations close- not happen in the United across the United States. Mulvaney will meet repre- He urged the public to halve the
ly. States. “I appreciate the deep sentatives from Northern number of social contacts they
“I think it’s fair to say we “We’re here to protect, personal commitment that Ireland’s devolved govern- have in a bid to reduce the R num-
are aware and cautious and defend that Good Friday Mick has shown in continu- ment and he will also travel ber, which is the number of people
watching the situation,” he Agreement that was so ing these vital conversa- to London to meet with an infected person will pass the
said. hard fought and won.” tions and contacts which MPs. C virus on to. C