Offaly politician to call for lifting of lockdown at meeting with Health Minister

Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Cllr John Carroll has said he will ask Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to lift the lockdown on Offaly this Friday.

The council chair is leading a delegation of councillors to meet the Minister for Health tomorrow (Thursday).

Cllr Carroll said: “I will be emphatic that he immediately review the rate of infection in Offaly since August 7  and the number of cases in South Offaly since June 12 and will be asking that he order the lifting of the restrictions immediately and definitely before the weekend.”

“We are at a loss in Offaly and Laois as to why we are still in lockdown with minimal new cases reported each day in spite of greater numbers tested and the threatened spike in days after lockdown on August 7.

"To leave Offaly on lockdown this weekend will be nothing short of a disgrace and a severe blow to our pubs, restaurants, visitor centres and our young people involved in sport who are paying a big price for the sins of a few.”

In the wake of the new restrictions imposed nationally on Tuesday night, Cllr Carroll said: “Like many other people I am finding it more difficult to understand the policies or the strategy of the present Government in seeking to combat Covid 19.

"I believe everyone is willing to play their part and people do understand the threat and the fact that so many have lost their lives and others been very seriously ill is a stark reminder to us all. However if we are to succeed people must understand the relationship between what they are being asked to do and likely consequences of failure. At this stage, to put it in GAA parlance, I believe the Government have lost the dressing room”.