The Minister for Health has said that the ultimate decision to proceed with the Ireland v Italy Six Nations match rests with the Irish Rugby Football Union .He said he would explain the rationale behind his recommendation to cancel the game on 7 March.
Officials in Italy have been forced to cancel a number of sporting events, including two PRO14 rugby fixtures set to take place on Saturday. Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health Tony Holohan said the recommendation to cancel the match was based on the rapidly evolving nature of the outbreak in northern Italy.
He added that a travel ban was not necessary but information about coronavirus will be made available at points of entry to Ireland to raise awareness. He said while no one wanted to discourage Irish people from travelling or tourists coming here, the Government was prepared to take responsible, difficult decisions if needed and he would row in behind any difficult decisions.
3000 Italian fans still have plane a tickets and hotel booked here in Dublin..so unless you stop the flights you are not protecting anyone!
Someone told Harris and the IRFU that washing your hands is the best way to contain the spread of coronavirus and they've taken it up the wrong way. Beyond useless.
He always sounds like my imagination of how a leprechaun speaks. I honestly cannot take him seriously based on that alone!
Cop out. It’s not the IRFU decision. Don’t make them the scapegoats they’re not responsible for public health
Why did he bloody announce it on 6 1 news then as if it was a done thing.
This is a perfect example of the useless government the Irish people are used to. Pass the buck paddy
orwell4ever Also wasn’t Scotland in Italy on Saturday. Is there any precautions being taken on that front. Thousands of Scots went over for the match, they might have brought something back that they didn’t know about.
orwell4ever That’s really taking a leadership role. If the game goes ahead Ireland could be infected with the corona virus but we’ll leave that decision up to the IRFU whether the game goes ahead or not.
Tick tock..tick Tock !!!
And yet there are no precautions in place when entering Ireland. Wtf
It’ll go ahead so...
So.... he's made a decision to let someone else make a decision..
Simon Harris should stop this game from going ahead. End of story.
Cancel it full stop ✋
Can we check the people coming back into the country at every airport and port.
Talk about passing the book what a clown.
Hes not really getting this Minister for Health thing is he..
He should have done this, he should have done that. Give it a rest. He can’t win. IRFU have been advised that the game should not go ahead. Everyone needs to be responsible here and grow the fuck up. The IRFU will make the decision. So much for TeamOfUs.
Holy God Harris bloody do something what about the school children that returned from Italy where village is in lockdown..Two school principals have issued letters .where they all tested on landing..
Nobody doing enough about it. Spreading like wildfire and nobody seems to give a shit...
Sounds like we’re heading for a repeat of the 1972 Scotland and Wales fiasco. Would someone please put a grown up in charge?
Hasn't got the balls to make a decision is it no wonder it took 11 counts to get him in step down and step away mister man
Irresponsible passing the buck! Typical 🙄
Just the sort of leadership you'd expect from FG. Pathetic!
SimonHarrisTD This is absolutely outrageous. So your going to let the IRFU decide whether we have have 5000 Italian Supporters coming into our country from the European country worst affected by the Coronavirus. Seriously!!!
If they could pass a ball a well as the gov pass a buck they'd be champions.
IRFU give Harris of FG a telling off. Harris crumbles. Harris and FG revert to lecturing public on how they should vote. Who exactly do FG answer to?
Unbelievable!
God help us all if that's the case 😩
I wonder if he actually has the legislated power to order a private entity to cancel and if he does have the power and issues the order is he aftaid that the IRFU could seek compensation because of the offical order? Or it could be just be Simon being incompetent Simon again
Government is responsible for how the country copes with COVID19 not the IRFU or anyone else. Shambolic but what else is to be expected from Harris.
Harris (14th count by the skin of my teeth) you are an absolute rinse.
If the government releases an official statement instructing the IRFU not to play the game then that will affect every flight and insurance policies kick in immediately. If people make their own decisions then insurance will not pay.
You are paid and elected to make those decisions.. Not the IRFU.. Madness
He made the decision now rows back. GOD ALMIGHTY HARRIS
Goverment is responsible for the safety and health of citizens,its a government decision, but as ever FG pass the responsibility to someone else,its ridiculous to be even thinking of going ahead with this game when the virus is spreading across Italy
Make a bloody decision Harris. A serious public health issue is not within the remit of any organisation other than the Gov. Jesus
That's a cop out. We need to weigh up the relative risk, determine whether our health, education & economic systems could survive an epidemic & if the answer is no act accordingly. This isnt a pass the buck situation. Are we even screening those returning from infected regions?
This is appalling. Can Harris not at least require the game to be played behind closed doors?
The new hairstyle is fabulous
He wants the game postponed but the gov have no travel restrictions in place re Italy and school kids returning from ski trips are just sent home with sure it’ll be grand advice. He might be right but there’s zero management going on.
Hot potato
The Irish politician will always be reactive instead of proactive even with lives literally on the line. Useless and completely out of his depth is our Simon.
Won’t even take responsibility for this decision.
While it's probably the right call to postpone the game the hysteria over this virus is already getting out of control. I think this may well damage economies a lot more than public health and this may end up a retrospective lesson in context.
Irresponsible pathetic little man. Completely out of his depth.
O my god !! 😂😂. Classic case of not taking responsibility and passing the buck. Ireland summed up in one tweet
So SimonHarrisTD has done another classic FineGael bait and switch. Appears to take responsibility then passes it off to someone else. To think this lad has been running the health service.
Oh look it’s me hogging the limelight again 👍
And we wonder why we have both a physical and mental healthcare crisis. Who is really controlling Simon Harris ? Peadar Tóibín told us all about the HERDmentality in The Dail.
Simon Harris , he hasn't gone away you know , unfortunately , a couple of weeks in China , would do him the world of good SimonHarris FineGael
Jeez, is this fella capable of making an actual decision
Why did he not engage with the IRFU before his headline grabbing interview he has not been this forthcoming with the problems in the health service.
Put them in charge of the hospitals too while you're up there Simon. Sure who gives a damn? Obviously you don't? Why should the rest of us?
Still no checks coming into the country from Italy last week. This lad is a joke.
Incompetent spineless minister, and Varadkar is worse.
Are you serious SimonHarrisTD? Shut the game down
Closed doors match
Unbelievable.
Sorry the government is in charge of public safety It's his call not IRFU
IrishRugby are not going to put my health or that of the irish population at risk. They will be sued if they even attempt to not listen to SimonHarrisTD LeoVaradkar simoncoveney nealerichmond MichealMartinTD MaryLouMcDonald we are close to a global pandemic rteliveline
Go away, Nosferatu.
These cretins are still getting paid to run our country.
That man is such a wimp... when are irish politicians going to grow a pair, make hard decisions and actually start leading this country.. You have let us down Mr. Harris.. Put the welfare of your people first..
So SimonHarrisTD tells us yesterday the game should be cancelled, Meets with the IRFU and now says that the ultimate decision should be up to them? is this a fucking joke? God help us all when the Coronavirus comes here because with this non existent leadership we're all fucked.
That's weak and irresponsible.
What else could you expect from Simon Harris,he is only to willing to kill off the Irish
Simon Harris informs the public before speaking IRU. Political grandstanding then say’s its up to the IRU? Leprechaun politicians at work again
That’s some bullshit
Pathetic response - make the call and stick with it.
This is Ireland, sadly..
This is the dumbest thing ive ever heard and if its a Public health is then surely the HSE should be making the call and not a corporat sporting body SimonHarrisTD
Buck passing. Is he as adept with the oval ball? Sign him up!
Sorry it's government that keeps people safe Not the IRFU It's his call to keep us safe
I thought the virtue signalling ponce took the decision to cancel it yesterday. 🤷♂️
You gotta be kidding me 🙄
can we not just play the game on the Isle of Mann just to be safe?
So the IRFU are going to be left to decide on a public health matter? Bravo SimonHarrisTD, brilliant leadership.
You are joking right ? Letting the money grabbers at the IRFU put their own interests ahead of the safety of the country. Can we not have some political leadership from those paid to lead.
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