Ryan Tubridy put words to the thoughts of many this morning, urging the Government to improve its communication around Covid-19.
The RTE star weighed in on an issue that has proved a thorn in the side of Ireland's coalition Government: getting its message out clearly, and not via leaks and spin.
Tubs was impressed by yesterday's state-of-the-nation address from Taoiseach Micheal Martin, which set out Ireland's plan for driving down case numbers and putting the pandemic in the rear-view mirror.
But the Dubliner couldn't resist a dig at a Government he said has been "lacking" on the communications front.
Of the Taoiseach's speech, Tubs told listeners: "But I thought he did a good job. I thought he was clear, concise, laid it out.
"We'll say if they're getting the messaging wrong, we'll see if they're getting the messaging right – and I thought it was as clear as he could be with the facts to hand."
He added that the Taoiseach should give a national address every three or four weeks, "just to put us on the right track."
That approach, he said, "would be the way forward from a communications point of view.
"Because that is lacking, and that could do with a bit of lipstick."
Tubs said driving down case numbers is the responsibility of the public amid an ever-lengthening third national lockdown.
"What else can you do? I mean, you can't invent a way out, in terms of crushing the number – that's our job, sadly.
"What we needed to do was to see somebody in charge come out and say: 'Lads, here's the craic. It's not good, but this is where it's going.' We needed that."
He said the whispers circulating in the media and elsewhere – amid what appears to be widespread leaking from Government – "had to stop."
