Coronavirus - Page 215

Pierre · 29-01-2021, 19:33

Breakng News Tony Soprano confirmed as new EU Commission President.

RichardCoulter · 29-01-2021, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

The UK has yet another choice coming soon (if approved, which seems highly likely).

As there are now a few vaccines on the market, perhaps they should start to tailor the best one for the circumstances of each individual eg one/some might be better for older people.

jfman · 29-01-2021, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

As there are now a few vaccines on the market, perhaps they should start to tailor the best one for the circumstances of each individual eg one/some might be better for older people.

Heaven forbid we do that Germany suggested it and it was vaccine nationalism.

Pierre · 29-01-2021, 20:05

Ah yes the EU, weren’t they the ones that didn’t want a hard border on the island of Ireland? The staunch defenders of the Good Friday Agreement?

http://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-e...eland-12202656

jfman · 29-01-2021, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre

Ah yes the EU, weren’t they the ones that didn’t want a hard border on the island of Ireland? The staunch defenders of the Good Friday Agreement?

http://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-e...eland-12202656

It's why the protocol is there, just nobody expected them to invoke it first. The UK partition of the island of Ireland represents the gaping hole in the Single Market in both directions.

Pierre · 29-01-2021, 20:17

It’s being discussed in the EU thread too, mods can decide best place for it.

If I was BoJo I would now absolutely and immediately send a million or so doses of the AZ vaccine by lorry across from N.I. To R.o.I for the express use of the Irish, and make sure the lorries were photographed crossing the border.

jfman · 29-01-2021, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre

It’s being discussed in the EU thread too, mods can decide best place for it.

If I was BoJo I would now absolutely and immediately send a million or so doses of the AZ vaccine by lorry across from N.I. To R.o.I for the express use of the Irish, and make sure the lorries were photographed crossing the border.

I'm sure we've got people who could use those vaccines first.

Sephiroth · 29-01-2021, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman

I'm sure we've got people who could use those vaccines first.

The EU needs a kicking and to put the Republic into a difficult position is a bonus.

jfman · 29-01-2021, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

The EU needs a kicking and to put the Republic into a difficult position is a bonus.

Not to the point we should delay vaccinating 2% of our own population, they don't. It's not a difficult position for the Republic - vaccinate 12% of your population (two doses). No brainer. The folk in the North might feel a bit left out of such generosity.

Pierre · 29-01-2021, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman

Not to the point we should delay vaccinating 2% of our own population, they don't. It's not a difficult position for the Republic - vaccinate 12% of your population (two doses). No brainer. The folk in the North might feel a bit left out of such generosity.

It’s the equivalent of a political tap in, within the 6yd box in the cup final. An opportunity too good to miss.

jfman · 29-01-2021, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre

It’s the equivalent of a political tap in, within the 6yd box in the cup final. An opportunity too good to miss.

It's arguably good PR, and good for the Republic of Ireland.

But once the headlines die down it doesn't change very much on the ground. The EU have a contract dispute with Astrazenica until there is a risk to supply of EU vaccines to the UK (which isn't yet the case) we should leave them to it.

It may have been Damien but apologies if it wasn't but someone did raise the prospect of the UK supplying vaccines to the Republic at some point if EU supplies continued to be flagging. I think there's a reasonable justification for this in the interests of Northern Ireland and the Common Travel Area once our vaccine programme has been successful.

nomadking · 29-01-2021, 20:43

The EU are not even close to following article 16.1 of the NI Protocol.

Quote:

1. If the application of this Protocol leads to serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties that are liable to persist, or to diversion of trade, the Union or the United Kingdom may unilaterally take appropriate safeguard measures. Such safeguard measures shall be restricted with regard to their scope and duration to what is strictly necessary in order to remedy the situation. Priority shall be given to such measures as will least disturb the functioning of this Protocol.

Nothing has actually happened, so how can the EU that it has led to anything?

These "serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties" have to be actually occurring right now and before, for them to be able to invoke this. They also have to give a month's notice.

Sephiroth · 29-01-2021, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman

It's arguably good PR, and good for the Republic of Ireland.

But once the headlines die down it doesn't change very much on the ground. The EU have a contract dispute with Astrazenica until there is a risk to supply of EU vaccines to the UK (which isn't yet the case) we should leave them to it.

It may have been Damien but apologies if it wasn't but someone did raise the prospect of the UK supplying vaccines to the Republic at some point if EU supplies continued to be flagging. I think there's a reasonable justification for this in the interests of Northern Ireland and the Common Travel Area once our vaccine programme has been successful.

Ah, but if the UK bars export of the AZ vaccine (save to those countries in humanitarian need) on some emergency grounds, then AZ can plead force majeure. We owe that much help to AZ, surely.

jfman · 29-01-2021, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Ah, but if the UK bars export of the AZ vaccine (save to those countries in humanitarian need) on some emergency grounds, then AZ can plead force majeure. We owe that much help to AZ, surely.

If we've a sound contract we owe them nothing but the financial settlement agreed for purchase of the product offered.

Our political capital shouldn't be wasted on their incompetence if, as I suspect, they've got themselves into two contracts they cannot fulfill.

Pierre · 29-01-2021, 21:08

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-ema-expensive

Great isn’t it! ?

I can hear Lord Percy of Percy behind me saying, we don’t like gloaters here..........

But I can’t help myself.

Another Brexit scare story expunged.