Maybe we’re all going a little lock down crazy but it seems like the people in positions of responsibility don’t know the difference between right and wrong. The Beacon CEO providing vaccines to the staff of St Gerard’s Catholic School in Bray, where his children attend, not only stunk of nepotism but also of total disregard for the thousands of people who could have more easily been offered the doses. It leaves you begging the question if anyone in power is motivated by the common good anymore, or are the all corrupt to the bone?
One of the worst things about this incident is that the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, appeared on the six one news and declared there would be no consequences here, as blocking the HSE from delivering the vaccine to the Beacon would be like cutting off our nose to spite our face. Again doing the right thing hurts sometimes, it’s tough love, and for a minister to appear on the national broadcaster and state that a little corruption is needed to grease the wheels is probably one of the most outlandish things you can hear in a western country, this alone should have consequences. Sometimes we’re more like Craggy Island than a sophisticated member of the EU. The morning after, perhaps after he realised what he said out loud, or maybe he got an ear wagging from the Co-Taoiseach, Donnelly issued a statement announcing that he’s asked the HSE to suspend vaccine operations at the Beacon.
The episode didn’t wash well with people though; it holds a mirror up to Irish society, in what Sinn Fein TD John Brady called ‘privilege looking after privilege’. Needless to say it has resonated with people and there were hundreds of tweets yesterday expressing opinions, here are some of those messages:
Anyone saying that the alternative was to dump them can absolutely get in the sea. There are Cohort 4 cancer patients being treated in the hospital who have not been vaccinated. This is beyond despicable. @Julie_ODonoghue
Honestly can’t wrap my head around how not one of the people involved in those Beacon vaccinations didn’t stop for two seconds and think ‘Hmmm, this isn’t right.’ That’s what you pay for, I guess @SineadOCarroll
“Leftover” vaccines is the PR spin word rich people use when they “steal” vaccines from those that desperately need them @paddycosgrave
Really interested to see what Board members of the Beacon hospital think of the scandal. They include former Taoiseach Brian Cowen and former AIB boss Colm Doherty. Let’s see what they have to say. @ipkehoe
Beacon hospital could try google maps? - Schools (at least 2 special schools en route) - GP surgeries with lists of vulnerable patients - Dental Surgeries (many dentists have not yet been vaccinated) @sharonlambert0
They are treating the vaccines like All Ireland tickets @SamDeBrun
Just heard a TD’s office got a call today from a 77-year-old, offering to give up his own vaccine in favour of his 73-year-old wife who is a cancer patient. The HSE told him, “that’s not how it works.” The Beacon story today has people apoplectic. @gavreilly
My mother is in category 4 and is a patient in the Beacon hospital undergoing ongoing treatment for cancer. They’ve been unable to give us any information on when she’ll get the vaccine. @aoifstokes
St Gerard's School is 10km from the Beacon Hospital, as the crow flies. There are 10 schools for children with special needs that are closer to the Beacon, than St Gerard's in Bray. There are over 21 nursing homes closer to the Beacon, than St Gerard's in Bray @KieranCuddihy
The vaccine situation in the beaconhospital is akin to a stolen life-ring or stolen defibrillator. For the elderly and vulnerable who are still holding out for their turn a stolen vaccine could very easily become a stolen life @FoghornMurphy
Mortified if I was a teacher from St Gerards school and I took the vaccine @minnyshell
One of the worst things about this incident is that the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, appeared on the six one news and declared there would be no consequences here, as blocking the HSE from delivering the vaccine to the Beacon would be like cutting off our nose to spite our face. Again doing the right thing hurts sometimes, it’s tough love, and for a minister to appear on the national broadcaster and state that a little corruption is needed to grease the wheels is probably one of the most outlandish things you can hear in a western country, this alone should have consequences. Sometimes we’re more like Craggy Island than a sophisticated member of the EU. The morning after, perhaps after he realised what he said out loud, or maybe he got an ear wagging from the Co-Taoiseach, Donnelly issued a statement announcing that he’s asked the HSE to suspend vaccine operations at the Beacon.
The episode didn’t wash well with people though; it holds a mirror up to Irish society, in what Sinn Fein TD John Brady called ‘privilege looking after privilege’. Needless to say it has resonated with people and there were hundreds of tweets yesterday expressing opinions, here are some of those messages:
Anyone saying that the alternative was to dump them can absolutely get in the sea. There are Cohort 4 cancer patients being treated in the hospital who have not been vaccinated. This is beyond despicable. @Julie_ODonoghue
Honestly can’t wrap my head around how not one of the people involved in those Beacon vaccinations didn’t stop for two seconds and think ‘Hmmm, this isn’t right.’ That’s what you pay for, I guess @SineadOCarroll
“Leftover” vaccines is the PR spin word rich people use when they “steal” vaccines from those that desperately need them @paddycosgrave
Really interested to see what Board members of the Beacon hospital think of the scandal. They include former Taoiseach Brian Cowen and former AIB boss Colm Doherty. Let’s see what they have to say. @ipkehoe
Beacon hospital could try google maps? - Schools (at least 2 special schools en route) - GP surgeries with lists of vulnerable patients - Dental Surgeries (many dentists have not yet been vaccinated) @sharonlambert0
They are treating the vaccines like All Ireland tickets @SamDeBrun
Just heard a TD’s office got a call today from a 77-year-old, offering to give up his own vaccine in favour of his 73-year-old wife who is a cancer patient. The HSE told him, “that’s not how it works.” The Beacon story today has people apoplectic. @gavreilly
My mother is in category 4 and is a patient in the Beacon hospital undergoing ongoing treatment for cancer. They’ve been unable to give us any information on when she’ll get the vaccine. @aoifstokes
St Gerard's School is 10km from the Beacon Hospital, as the crow flies. There are 10 schools for children with special needs that are closer to the Beacon, than St Gerard's in Bray. There are over 21 nursing homes closer to the Beacon, than St Gerard's in Bray @KieranCuddihy
The vaccine situation in the beaconhospital is akin to a stolen life-ring or stolen defibrillator. For the elderly and vulnerable who are still holding out for their turn a stolen vaccine could very easily become a stolen life @FoghornMurphy
Mortified if I was a teacher from St Gerards school and I took the vaccine @minnyshell
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