Irish Examiner View: Solidarity is vital in face of coronavirus siege

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath are expected to publish a budget that will be as difficult as any published in the Dáil's 101-year history. Image: Julien Behal

The Siege of Candia - Crete today - began in 1648 and continued until 1669 making it the longest recognised siege in history. Although Ottoman invaders eventually prevailed the Venetians, who ruled Candia then, held out for 22 years. It may be, in a world besieged by Covid-19, possible to appreciate some of the grave challenges faced by Candia. However, that it took 22 years to bring matters to a conclusion is hardly uplifting.

Earlier this week Cork County Council's CEO Tim Lucey put the consequences of the Covid-19 siege into a sobering context when he described the devastating impact it is having on the authority's income and its capacity to deliver services.