Neil McDonnell: Time for Plan C in Covid fightback 

The longer we continue in heavy lockdown, the fewer of our SMEs will survive

A deserted Grafton Street in Dublin. Ireland currently has the joint second most severe lockdown in place in the world – equal with Italy and behind only Lebanon. File picture

Last week, Ireland passed a significant anniversary: one year on from then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s announcement from Washington DC of a Covid-19 lockdown.

Since then, our infection rates have fluctuated wildly, but we appear to be struggling to get the country below a case rate of 150 per 100,000 people.