Relaxation of Restrictions, Part XII *Read OP For Mod Warnings*

Well I don't know Graham. I suppose seeing the reality of the new normal spelled out in our national broadcaster this morning without any facilitation of public debate on whether such measures are even proportional or ethical to begin with just concerns me.

The vaccines seem very effective and you would hope they'll bring about an end to restrictions (I don't think so personally, I think Ireland will remain a joyless dystopia for the long-term because of our over-reaction to COVID and our lack of viable political or media opposition).

However, being allowed to participate in society on the condition of whether or not you've taken part in the clinical trials for the product of one of several multi-national pharmaceutical corporations is in no way ethically acceptable.

Again, the vaccines seem to be destroying the risks associated with COVID and, if so, that's great news. But I guess I'm just hugely allergic to the idea of coercing people, particularly younger people, to rush in and take a vaccine that nobody on Earth can promise you will have no long-term effects on your immune system or reproductive health for example, when they would otherwise not even be risk of a negative outcome from contracting COVID in the first place.

You can't really relax restrictions by bringing in an incredibly restrictive condition for engaging with society, I suppose.

I could be wrong but does scanning the code give you any further information than whats already there?

A quick look at the cert on my phone tells my name, DOB, Vaccination status and date of vaccination. I believe scanning the code give you the exact same information so it would all seem a little pointless!

Copy of your cert either paper or digital as per the app and another form of id and one ye go would surely make more sense albeit what makes sense during seems to be open for debate, anyone for a plate of chicken nuggets with their pints??

You need to move on from McDonalds and Burger King!

Tin foil hat bla bla bla but seriously, covid has been the vehicle for the most unbelievable wholesale forfeiture of liberty since WWII.

A global sh1tting of the bed fueled by the hysteria typical of social media.

Sad and sickening.

my granny is 101 and got covid in jan in the nursing home - no symptoms just a positive result.

she was furious that her last 2 weeks could have been spent "in prison" (her words) - i'm guessing at 101 - every 2 weeks can possibly be the rest of your life .

Her last year has mostly been devoid of contact with her family bar a designated visitor - who is this benefiting? not her, despite being of that protected granny status we were told this was for.

We'll be grand once the vulnerable are vaccinated and we'll open up once most adults are vaccinated they said. Anyone who suggested earlier in the year that restrictions would still be in place heading into the middle and late summer was absolutely vilified and scoffed at on here. Yet here we are. Anyone who thinks we won't have restrictions for winter 2021/22 is deluded. The media are seriously ramping up the fear as well this week. As bad as it has ever been with finger wagging and tut tutting about people going on holidays or going for a drink and a bite to eat. Disgusting.

And people are still being called conspiracy theorists, whilst in a few days we have to scan qr codes to enter cafes - even though vaccinated people can also spread the virus. If I’ve learned one thing this year, it’s that there is no safety, and I’m not talking about from mild-moderate respiratory illness - there is no safety in the structure of our society. I guess it was always an illusion.

Dismissing debate and shouting conspiracy is a bit silly now isn't it, given where we are at.

I was one of those who laughed my arse off at the conspiracy theorists. I posted over on the conspiracy forum around this time last year calling them out for their nonsense predictions about vaccine cards and saying they were tinfoil hatters etc. Remembering last year at this time we had indoor dining and other than the silly €9 meal, no real restrictions.

Fast forward 12 months and we have a huge swathe of the country vaccinated and yet we have "no vaccine, no service" laws about to come into place in the country, special "papers" to go on for a cup of coffee somewhere, continued restrictions on people and a media waging a war of fear against the population. We have politicians telling us this winter is going to see continued restrictions. And an unelected bureaucrat calling the shots on public policy in the country

I'm not laughing as the conspiracy theorists anymore. The €9 meal now seems very reasonable given where things are at now. There's something deeply dystopian going on in this country.

It's global, there is no escaping this sh1t, look at Spain, bringing back the mandatory outdoor mask law, pathetic...

*physically survive those years.

This ain't living and I think that was the point Paw Patrol was trying to convey.

In fairness I've been very negative this morning and have admittedly increased the hyperbole in order to blow off steam.

Still and all, it's very concerning to see the steam-rolling of our normal lives continue apace - especially because nobody (in the media or Dáil) seem to be asking "when will it all end" and are instead twisting themselves in knots asking "how can we make every day like even more restrictive and technocratic in order to deliver an economic boost while still making it look like we care about public safety since we've backed ourselves into a corner now with all of the OTT fear-mongering of the last 18 months"... or something like that.

Very trusting of you - so why is the date of Birth/Vaccine type on the certificate.

Name and Vaccination date only required to gain admission.

If you want to be picky, check ID.

End of story

Visual check only required of document (hard or soft copy) by staff member.

No hidden QR stuff to be picked up by readers / scanners.

No records retained.

It is all getting a bit woolly round the edges now isn't it. Clarity has been very slowly eroded away since we abandoned the Level system and started vaccinating.

But I have to remain hopeful that we're no longer in the middle of a pandemic, and are instead somewhere in the last quarter (maybe last third on pessimistic days)

I really don't like the idea of this vaccine discrimination to access indoor refreshments. And I use that word refreshments because I wouldn't be a big diner/drinker as such - but I do love a good coffee shop or café. I wont' be fully vaxxed until the end of August and I also won't be able to access a DCC or QR code because I was vaccinated outside the HSE/GP system by my employer. I've still got a vax card and my job have said they will give me a letter but to be honest I'm worried that my "papers" won't be good enough for some places. All this talk of scanners and what-not is giving me visions of several COMPUTER SAYS NO moments in my future. Let's hope I'm worrying about nothing. I might just stick to outdoors and hope this division is abandoned before the weather turns too cold.

And kids too - are they allowed to go to restaurants on their own ? Do they have to be accompanied by adults when they want to hang out in Eddie Rockets or McDonalds with their friends and enjoy a burger ? Seems a bit silly.

Please let next year be better. The promise that 2021 held at the beginning of the year died a slow and lingering death. Yes we opened up a good bit but all the spontaneous joy has been sucked out of everything.

I live in hope...