COVID-19 has become like the relative or friend that arrived unannounced intending to stay only for a few days but not inclined to leave. By now, all the hinting to move on has not worked, so it is time to learn to live with them.
Learning to live with COVID-19 has become the new challenge and of course it depends on one’s circumstances as to how well one can live or fight it. Private business has little or no option but to fight the ongoing Coronavirus battle. The last week or so has seen the return of the school buses. Those of us on the road will have seen the return of the long distance operators, such as Eireagle, GoBus, Citylink, The Green Bus, Aircoach, and others. Of course, Swords Express, Matthews, Bus Eireann and Wexford Bus never stopped operating. Services are also being resumed from Dublin to tourist attractions like the Cliffs of Moher and other similar beauty spots around the country, a positive move. I know, I have missed some operators, sorry for that, the point is that this return to operation is heartening. It is also a sign of a sector ready to put its shoulder to the wheel and get things moving. And so the Government must take note of this and remember two things. Some financial assistance is needed to maintain these services, and the only way to maintain these schedules is to open up the Airports. A simple enough request. We hear rumours of some air services into Ireland being cancelled, this would be devastating and could set the tourist sector and domestic economy back decades.
One of the low points this week was the announcement by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to put a charge on people dropping off passengers at Dublin Airport, with the suggestion that they wanted people to use public transport. Get off the stage guys, if you really want people to use public transport, then stop screwing bus operators for parking at the Airport. You my say your message was badly reported, well spell it out clearer,
I would have thought that by now the Government would have realised that transport of passengers and goods are essential to maintaining and growing our economy, but I am not sure that reality has dawned on our administration, either civil service or politicians. We must keep up the good fight.