Who in Government knew about the impending earthquake of the Level 5 recommendation, and when? These inquiries may have inspired a week of fevered excitement among political commentators, but they’re beside the point for an increasingly anxious, distrustful public. There is a narrative taking hold that the Irish public is catastrophising the virus, in comparison to our reportedly insouciant European neighbours. We’re on a train bound for Level 5, and there’s no way off. The big question of the week isn’t what Holohan said to Donnelly; or what Donnelly said to the Taoiseach; or how the Tánaiste responded.

Source: The Irish Times October 10, 2020 00:00 UTC