“We need serious engagement at a one to one level.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that “more influencers” are needed to reach young people about the dangers of Covid-19.
Martin told Newstalk’s The Pat Kenny Show today that the government is in consistent contact with the HSE about how best to educate Ireland’s young people about Covid-19.
He said that messaging needed to be aimed towards young people regarding the significance of community transmission following reports of multiple house parties that occurred over the weekend.
“The practicality of Gardaí going into every single household is a challenge in itself,” Martin said.
“We need serious engagement at a one to one level. People need to challenge [flatmates] and say this isn’t on, if you’re going to a party with 12 or so people and coming back here that isn’t on.”
This comes after scenes of a rave at Dublin’s Oliver Bond flat complex were shared on social media, not long after further restrictions were announced for the capital.
“The Gardaí’s approach all along, operationally, has been to encourage compliance, work with people, engage with people,” said Martin.
“I think the Oliver Bond situation is being investigated by the Gardaí (…) There might be a range of issues that the Gardaí have to attend to above and beyond the social distancing and the breach of regulations.
“That is a serious issue.”
Dublin entered Level 3 restrictions on Friday, banning all non-essential travel outside of the county and all in-door dining for three weeks.
Elsewhere, the rest of the country has seen the reopening of wet pubs for the first time since March.
396 cases of Covid-19 were recorded yesterday, and no further deaths.
