Speech by Minister Coveney for the launch of the ‘Be Winter-Ready’ 2021–2022 Campaign

Good morning everyone, as Chair of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I’m pleased to be here today alongside Minister Heydon and Minister Naughton to jointly launch the 2021-2022 ‘Be Winter-Ready’ Government information campaign. We also have Evelyn Cusack with us today. You all know her as Head Forecaster of Met Eireann and I want to thank Met Eireann once again for their partnership.

Before getting into the details of the Be Winter Ready campaign, I would like to say a few words first about where we are with the pandemic.

This is going to be the second full winter of living with Covid in Ireland. The COVID-19 situation in Ireland is uncertain and of concern. We remain vulnerable to a further deterioration depending on a number of factors, including levels of social contact, adherence to basic public health protective measures, and levels of immunity across the population.

The current level of COVID-19 is having a significant and sustained impact across all aspects of the health service, including in hospitals, Intensive Care Units (ICUs), public health, testing and tracing services, general practice, as well as the broader primary care services.

Following public health advice, the government has agreed a range of measures aimed at interrupting the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

Household close contacts who are fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms should now restrict their movements until they have 3 negative antigen test results within 5 days.

From midnight tomorrow (Thursday), everyone should revert to working from home unless it is necessary to attend the workplace in person.

We all need to take steps individually and collectively in our everyday lives to keep this risk under control, in particular by:

• acting fast, isolating and getting tested if we have symptoms;

• wearing our face coverings where appropriate;

• making sure that indoor spaces are well ventilated;

• maintaining adequate social distancing whenever appropriate;

• covering our coughs and sneezes and keeping our hands clean.

So living with, and being fully aware of, Covid through winter is my first message in this ‘Be Winter Ready’ Campaign.

My second message is the safety of our farming families.

The Irish farm is one of the most fulfilling workplaces but it is also one of the most dangerous.

Minister Heydon will say more but I’m acutely aware that 23 people lost there lives on farms across the island of Ireland in 2020.

Some of the fatalities were minors, some were people in their 60s. Farmers are 6% of the workforce but account for 50% of workplace fatalities.

In the last 10 years that has meant more than 200 people were killed on farms. That is 200 enormous tragedies in families throughout Ireland.

That is why “Staying Safe on the Farm over Winter” is the key theme of this year’s launch, and we’ll hear more in a moment.

My third message this morning highlights the ‘Whole of Government’ approach being taken to winter preparations, from storms to safety on the road, to safety at sea. It informs the public on what is being done and where they can get information. I would ask everyone to check the winterready.ie website.

As a final word, I would like to make a special mention of older people in our community. They are one of the most vulnerable groups to the hardships inflicted by severe weather. So I would like to take this opportunity to remind people that, in the event of severe weather, please take the time to check on your older relatives and neighbours.

I will now hand over to Minister Heydon who will provide you with further information about this year’s focused message which will be “Staying Safe on the Farm over Winter” and the work of his Department. After Minister Heydon, Minister Naughton will then provide a briefing on road safety issues.

Thank you.

ENDS

Speech by Minister Coveney for the launch of the ‘Be Winter-Ready’ 2021–2022 Campaign

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