National Forum

New Social Contract

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Dr. Mike Ryan, who is the Executive Director of Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organisation spoke on Wednesday about the public's desire for mass gatherings such as sporting fixtures to resume.

He quoted that an alternative to banning sporting events would be for a new social contract to exist where society is willing to accept the risk before an event takes place.

I'm assuming that this would mean if the GAA wanted to hold games then at ticket purchase point thee would be signage that purchasing a ticket means you are "signing" the social contract. Similar to "parking at your own risk"

Do you think there would be an appetite for this in Ireland. I can't see people putting themselves or family members at risk if they are in the high risk category but would this appeal to enough of the public to hold events?

I think I'd probably be happy enough to accept the social contract but it would be interesting to hear others opinions.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 23/04/2020 12:53:08    2276563

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Replying To Tir Conaill Abu:  "Dr. Mike Ryan, who is the Executive Director of Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organisation spoke on Wednesday about the public's desire for mass gatherings such as sporting fixtures to resume.

He quoted that an alternative to banning sporting events would be for a new social contract to exist where society is willing to accept the risk before an event takes place.

I'm assuming that this would mean if the GAA wanted to hold games then at ticket purchase point thee would be signage that purchasing a ticket means you are "signing" the social contract. Similar to "parking at your own risk"

Do you think there would be an appetite for this in Ireland. I can't see people putting themselves or family members at risk if they are in the high risk category but would this appeal to enough of the public to hold events?

I think I'd probably be happy enough to accept the social contract but it would be interesting to hear others opinions."
Me and my family would accept it not a bother.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 23/04/2020 13:16:22    2276565

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Replying To Tir Conaill Abu:  "Dr. Mike Ryan, who is the Executive Director of Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organisation spoke on Wednesday about the public's desire for mass gatherings such as sporting fixtures to resume.

He quoted that an alternative to banning sporting events would be for a new social contract to exist where society is willing to accept the risk before an event takes place.

I'm assuming that this would mean if the GAA wanted to hold games then at ticket purchase point thee would be signage that purchasing a ticket means you are "signing" the social contract. Similar to "parking at your own risk"

Do you think there would be an appetite for this in Ireland. I can't see people putting themselves or family members at risk if they are in the high risk category but would this appeal to enough of the public to hold events?

I think I'd probably be happy enough to accept the social contract but it would be interesting to hear others opinions."
I don't see how this can help at all. I'm not worried about myself so I'd happily "sign" such a contract. But if I go to the match and pick up the virus when there I may be asymptomatic and then in the weeks after the match I'm passing it to everyone I encounter. How can that be acceptable? Just because I signed the contract I could cause clusters all over the place all because I went to one match.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 23/04/2020 14:04:55    2276569

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Ya but the poor lad working in the shop you visit after the match who catches covid off you didn't sign any social contract

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 23/04/2020 14:05:08    2276570

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Replying To Tir Conaill Abu:  "Dr. Mike Ryan, who is the Executive Director of Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organisation spoke on Wednesday about the public's desire for mass gatherings such as sporting fixtures to resume.

He quoted that an alternative to banning sporting events would be for a new social contract to exist where society is willing to accept the risk before an event takes place.

I'm assuming that this would mean if the GAA wanted to hold games then at ticket purchase point thee would be signage that purchasing a ticket means you are "signing" the social contract. Similar to "parking at your own risk"

Do you think there would be an appetite for this in Ireland. I can't see people putting themselves or family members at risk if they are in the high risk category but would this appeal to enough of the public to hold events?

I think I'd probably be happy enough to accept the social contract but it would be interesting to hear others opinions."
ah Christ spare us . Really grasping at straws now

Talking_Sense (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 23/04/2020 14:56:58    2276576

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Every day is a contract. You get out of bed and might collapse. We've all passed on and received colds and flus, etc. We do our best by wearing masks or self quarantining or covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing. I'd sign this contract while also practicing common sense and courtesy around others.

The contract wouldn't be a free pass to cough and sneeze at others.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2120 - 23/04/2020 15:19:36    2276580

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I think his point is that people will need to make a decision about whether or not they want to take part in an activity, based on the level of risk. I don't think there would be any physical "contract" that would have to be signed. For example, you could say that riding a motorbike carries a higher risk level than driving a car - yet some people choose to ride motorbikes. In the same way, I think he's suggesting there will be certain risks involved in playing or attending sports: participants will have to weigh up the risks, and make up their minds accordingly. Of course, from the state's perspective, the risks are much higher for the broader community - as an individual, I can accept the level of risk but, as someone else stated, the shopkeeper I meet afterwards could be an infected as a result! Unfortunately, if the virus is still "live" in the community as we head into June & July, then I think there will be option but to retain the ban on sport

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 23/04/2020 15:25:27    2276581

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What a load of nonsense. There is nothing more paramount than the health and safety of people, loved ones, neighbors etc! How the notion of things going ahead until the pandemic as a whole is under proper control or eradicated is ridiculous.

People are honestly saying theyd be willing to 'Sign a contract' to go see any type of game and risk contracting or spreading a disease, further putting a strain on the front line staff, the economy and creating emotional turmoil within a family not being able to see loved ones again or through death? Really sound and mature!

I for one love sport as much as the next and will have had numerous sporting events cancelled in the coming months at home and abroad in various codes, so to any biters who say who are you to tell us not to go to a sporting event i say there will be a GAA match next year , the year after and for countless years after that to enjoy, we need to make sure the people we love to watch these games with are there to enjoy it too.

LongfordSham (Longford) - Posts: 106 - 23/04/2020 15:51:53    2276585

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It's interesting to see the opinions on the issue is varied. The main point is that peoples safety is paramount and I'd fully agree with this but we're entering a strange situation that until a vaccine is available this virus will still be amongst us and people will still get sick and die. The vaccine may not be available this year or even next year if the strain changes so the question remains.... what do we do as a society. Do you think it's feasible that all sport will be called ashore until that vaccine is available? I don't think society will wait until then and an acceptance of risk will come into play.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 24/04/2020 10:14:15    2276622

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Replying To Tir Conaill Abu:  "It's interesting to see the opinions on the issue is varied. The main point is that peoples safety is paramount and I'd fully agree with this but we're entering a strange situation that until a vaccine is available this virus will still be amongst us and people will still get sick and die. The vaccine may not be available this year or even next year if the strain changes so the question remains.... what do we do as a society. Do you think it's feasible that all sport will be called ashore until that vaccine is available? I don't think society will wait until then and an acceptance of risk will come into play."
Some scientists are saying it could be five years until there is an effective vaccine. There is only a small chance of one being available in 12 to 18 months, so are social gatherings off the agenda until at least then. I simply don't know and I don't even think the experts quite know yet either.

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1080 - 24/04/2020 11:17:47    2276625

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Replying To moros:  "Some scientists are saying it could be five years until there is an effective vaccine. There is only a small chance of one being available in 12 to 18 months, so are social gatherings off the agenda until at least then. I simply don't know and I don't even think the experts quite know yet either."
I often wonder is this nature's way of culling the heard or is it a man made virus aimed at the old and most vulnerable people in our society.

Hard to make sence of it all.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 24/04/2020 12:37:35    2276630

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "I often wonder is this nature's way of culling the heard or is it a man made virus aimed at the old and most vulnerable people in our society.

Hard to make sence of it all."
Not really...we were overdue a pandemic. It's also worth noting we are overdue a major volcanic eruption (yellowstone) and the possibility the earth could be hit by an asteroid is very real but most believe events like this will never happen in our life time but that's very naive.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11231 - 24/04/2020 13:32:11    2276635

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Forget, for a minute, about supporters being part of a 'social' contract and run the risk of catching Covid19. How many amateur players will run a bigger risk in playing? No healthy players in any sport in any country should get a COVID test before other citizens purely to play a sport, no matter how much money is involved. When everyone else is tested squads coaches, backup team need to go into individual isolation for 14 days before they're tested. Once all test negative then team training can start, minus any isolated positive tests, the squad can start team training, in isolation from everyone else, before games start behind closed doors. I don't see many amateur players putting their jobs/college on hold for that length of time and still be in a risk of being positive for COVID. That'd just be for behind closed doors televised games where you throw media and TV crews into that zone.

Not even God can predict when or how this might end. We could have multiple waves of COVID. We're all a bit stir crazy and stressed and we want to keep our spirits up by thinking up scenarios and it's a bit of craic. I thought Zoom was a song by Fat Larry's Band until a few weeks ago!

Stay well and happy everyone.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 24/04/2020 15:06:29    2276644

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Forget, for a minute, about supporters being part of a 'social' contract and run the risk of catching Covid19. How many amateur players will run a bigger risk in playing? No healthy players in any sport in any country should get a COVID test before other citizens purely to play a sport, no matter how much money is involved. When everyone else is tested squads coaches, backup team need to go into individual isolation for 14 days before they're tested. Once all test negative then team training can start, minus any isolated positive tests, the squad can start team training, in isolation from everyone else, before games start behind closed doors. I don't see many amateur players putting their jobs/college on hold for that length of time and still be in a risk of being positive for COVID. That'd just be for behind closed doors televised games where you throw media and TV crews into that zone.

Not even God can predict when or how this might end. We could have multiple waves of COVID. We're all a bit stir crazy and stressed and we want to keep our spirits up by thinking up scenarios and it's a bit of craic. I thought Zoom was a song by Fat Larry's Band until a few weeks ago!

Stay well and happy everyone."
fat larry eh showing your age their boy nice one

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 24/04/2020 18:41:12    2276672

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Replying To moros:  "Some scientists are saying it could be five years until there is an effective vaccine. There is only a small chance of one being available in 12 to 18 months, so are social gatherings off the agenda until at least then. I simply don't know and I don't even think the experts quite know yet either."
iv said it before there will be no league next year and we will be very very lucky to have a cship in the summer of 2021, VERY LUCKY ,

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2842 - 24/04/2020 19:40:01    2276675

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Replying To Stmunnsriver:  "iv said it before there will be no league next year and we will be very very lucky to have a cship in the summer of 2021, VERY LUCKY ,"
The experts don't even know the full picture of this, information is changing and contradicting itself every week, no point make sweeping statements like the above when all we're doing is guessing....

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 24/04/2020 21:37:46    2276688

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Not really...we were overdue a pandemic. It's also worth noting we are overdue a major volcanic eruption (yellowstone) and the possibility the earth could be hit by an asteroid is very real but most believe events like this will never happen in our life time but that's very naive."
Yew tree I hope you don't work for the samaratans :-)

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 24/04/2020 22:04:28    2276690

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "Yew tree I hope you don't work for the samaratans :-)"
Mayo 4 Sam 2021 lad ;)

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11231 - 24/04/2020 22:44:49    2276695

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Not really...we were overdue a pandemic. It's also worth noting we are overdue a major volcanic eruption (yellowstone) and the possibility the earth could be hit by an asteroid is very real but most believe events like this will never happen in our life time but that's very naive."
There's more chance of the Earth being hit by an asteroid then Mayo winning Sam.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2466 - 24/04/2020 23:20:17    2276699

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Replying To football first:  "I think his point is that people will need to make a decision about whether or not they want to take part in an activity, based on the level of risk. I don't think there would be any physical "contract" that would have to be signed. For example, you could say that riding a motorbike carries a higher risk level than driving a car - yet some people choose to ride motorbikes. In the same way, I think he's suggesting there will be certain risks involved in playing or attending sports: participants will have to weigh up the risks, and make up their minds accordingly. Of course, from the state's perspective, the risks are much higher for the broader community - as an individual, I can accept the level of risk but, as someone else stated, the shopkeeper I meet afterwards could be an infected as a result! Unfortunately, if the virus is still "live" in the community as we head into June & July, then I think there will be option but to retain the ban on sport"
The difference riding a motorbike is you're only endangering your life. A healthy 25 year-old footballer could catch the virus playing a game, then go home and pass it on to his 60 year-old parents. That could result in 2 more people requiring critical medical care.

The economy will have to be opened up sooner rather than later to stop us going bankrupt. However I think pubs, nightclubs and contact sport will have to wait until we have some effective treatment at least.

MayoDan (Mayo) - Posts: 420 - 25/04/2020 01:34:58    2276702

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