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LAST UPDATE | 25 Jan 2024
THE REVIEW INTO Ireland’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic will involve a “no-blame approach”.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today consulted and shared the draft terms of reference with opposition parties.
Government will also seek suggestions from opposition members on the inquiry, with three weeks being given to members to make submissions.
Varadkar added that a mechanism to consult interested groups and stakeholders will also be found.
A draft template of the inquiry’s terms of reference has been published and it is understood that the proposals were well-received by opposition members.
The review of how Ireland handled the Covid-19 pandemic will analyse the government’s response, how hospitals and nursing homes coped and the effect it had on society and the economy.
There will also be a “particular focus” on nursing homes.
It is also likely that frontline health workers and families who lost loved ones will also be heard at the inquiry.
The inquiry will be non-statutory and will seek to “provide a factual account of the overall strategy for and handling of Covid-19 in Ireland”.
It will also identify lessons to be learned and make recommendations to guide future decision-making.
The inquiry however is not intended to cover clinical questions or vaccine efficacy or outcomes.
The inquiry panel will be independent, consisting of a chair and four other members “drawn from a range of backgrounds/expertise”.
It’s expected to take 18 months to complete and testimony to the inquiry will be allowed in both public and in private hearings.
Asked today why the Government had chosen a non-statutory inquiry, Vadarkar said he did not think it “would be in anyone’s interests” to have a six-to-seven-year-long inquiry which cost tens of millions of euro.
He said: “I’m sure that we could have done things differently, could have done things better and we need to learn for the next major public health emergency, so we want to get this done in a year or two, not in six or seven years.
“Also, the objective of it is not to ascribe blame to any individual. Anybody who made decisions or acted as they did during Covid – from front line, to doctors, to media, to Government Buildings – would’ve done so in good faith.
“But to say that there isn’t going to be any blame, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to admit any mistakes.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin said following the UK’s approach of an “adversarial legal inquiry” would not be of benefit to Irish society.
Martin said: “I’ve always made the point that if you go in with this sort of interrogatory approach, the next pandemic or the next major crisis you’ll have everybody looking over their shoulders in terms of ‘how would this look in the context of a future inquiry if I behave this way or that way’.
“Whereas what you want people to do in the midst of a crisis is make decisions based on the best information and evidence before them.”
Dark period
Speaking warlier this week, Varadkar said this week that it was a “very dark period” and “difficult decisions” had to be taken.
“Everyone can be an expert in hindsight. We can only make decisions based on the information available and the advice that was put to us by experts.
“I have no doubt that the lockdowns saved lives. I am absolutely certain that the vaccine programme saved a lot of lives,” he said.
“Of course the lockdowns had negative effects. I was among many people in government who were very clear about my concerns about the negative effects of lockdowns, not just on people’s jobs and businesses but also delayed and deferred diagnoses… which did happen. In housing construction we lost thousands of houses because of the housing construction lockdown,” said the Taoiseach.
He said it was never a case of choosing between the right option and the wrong option.
“It was choosing between options A, B and C, all of which had pros and cons,” he said.
“Often those decisions were finely balanced. The public health advice more often than not was for deeper, longer, stricter lockdowns.
“That was often the view of the opposition, too, indeed some even flirted with the bizarre zero Covid policy which has proven to be among the worst options when we see the effects that occurred, or certainly not a sustainable option as it was abandoned by all the countries that attempted it,” he added.
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If the SocDems go anywhere near labour they will lose my vote. Labour are toxic and no longer represent the working classes. Burton and Kelly need to go.
Kelly defo especially with the Brother waiting in the wings for the go ahead for IW.
I’m with you P Quinn. Voted SD last election in the hope they’d offer something different. After the way Shortall was shafted by the party, and Murphy’s findings were arrogantly dimissed, I’d be very disappointed if the SDs went anywhere near them
And Howlin
Exactly what I did. Totally agree Anne and P quinn
Agree it would be a political disaster. Though in contrast think Burton would struggle doing a deal with a plank anyway..
I would be very disappointed if the soc dems went anywhere near labour…particularly how labour behaved in power..
Poor ol’ I.Q. 47 got off his tits on the stuff. I want to put my hand in his shoulder, talk to him, document the whole thing and make a comedy sitcom out of it.
Agree big time. Labour are a far right party.. taking money out of the hands of disabled people and single working mothers. American republican party would probably think that a step too far…
Is this the social democrats and Catherine Murphy that Joan hadn’t much time for during the siteserv shenaghins…. Wouldn’t vote for enda today now wants to join up for speaking rights… Ooh how labour have fallen… Not so important now are you…
This morning, both caretaker taoiseach enda Kenny and caretaker tanaiste Joan Burton along with caretaker cabinet ministers including labour ministers were sitting around the cabinet table. Only in Feb Joan was telling us all to vote for labour and fg and this afternoon the caretaker tanaiste and her labour pals wouldn’t vote for enda Kenny… ….
In other news Joan and the other 6 labour TDs decided to vote for another 8 days holidays along with ff and fg. While everyone else voted against…
Every TD from Sinn Féin, AAA-PBP, the Social Democrats, the Green Party and almost all Independents – 56 in total – voted against delaying Dáil debate until 14 April.
Every TD from Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour – 100 in total – voted to wait until next Thursday to meet again.
If the SDs have any sense and if the greens have learned from the past they’ll stay away from Joan.
Come into my parlour said spider to the fly…
Simple but true Tony
I hope to swim the Atlantic… by Friday. Don’t see it happening though.
Lol Rusty Balls…..I don’t see why not. Sure if Joan actually thinks she is entitled to be in government I would IMAGINE that your dream could come true too.
@Mary I can’t swim, I figured I could sell sponsorship and make some guarantees. If I take a leaf out of Joan’s book it’s ok to make empty guarantees, there’s good money in it.
And a bit of Joan’s imagination too Rusty.
social dems will have a short lived political life if they get into bed with joan brutal and labour
Couldn’t agree more and I hope they realize that
Couldn’t care less what the greens do but the SD would be mad to even talk to Labour.
Why? They will be broadly irrelevant in the new Dail as three deputies without official status fighting it out with the likes of Jackie Healy Rae for speaking time. Labour has guaranteed speaking time as a party of seven deputies on every debate. The Greens with two and the SDs with three will be heard from every few days at most if they are lucky. This way they could probably be heard from on most debates. Put aside your dislike of Labour and think about what sort of politics you want to achieve and issues you want advanced. Labour, SDs and Greens have very similar platforms. Of course they disagree on issues, but they agree on more than they disagree. It makes sense to cooperate
The woman is delusional.
joan brutals desperation is palpable ,, she led her party to oblivion & now wants to tempt others
down the her road,,, shameless woman leads a shameless party,, snap election and god willing
labour shall be no more
DJ which woman is delusional?
Wow! Labour abstaining from voting FG for the first time in over 5 years. You guys are really living up to your ‘frankfurts way or labours way’!
She wouldnt vote for FG/Kenny in the Dail today, yet 2 months ago she was telling us all to vote for them!!
Bang on Nigel she was going on about how her and edna would be forming a new govt. This just shows how what contempt she has for the electorate.
Why Nigel that’s true. I forgot she wished us all to follow her dream
She makes me sick, the sack of excrement!! Apologies for the language.
Stick it up your jacksie Joan!!
Probably looking for someone to share the €212,625 per annum rent in their plush new offices on the top floor of the Bloodstone building at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay.
No morals Iphoney…
Why would the SocDems or the Greens want to join forces with a dying party?
Nightmare just won’t go away!!
Joan Burton when you were in opposition i thought you were the greatest woman since i don’t know when you wanted so much for the Irish people. All that changed when you got in a yes woman nothing but try to please Enda , not a true Labour Woman.
Pity she didn’t come up with that suggestion 5 years ago ..
Jog on joany, you’re as wanted as a fart in a spacesuit
Labour is a sinking ship. The SDs would be mad to go near them. Part of the SDs success has been due to attracting ex-labour voters. It would destroy them to do any sort of deal with radioactive labour.
Jesus this woman is throughly off her trolley.
you go to bed with a dog you often wake up with fleas. i have no time whatsoever for the greens but the social democrats should stay clear of providing this shower any sense of credibility. they stabbed their core electorate in the back and that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
Fairly stupid from Ms Burton there. Does she not realise the SDs were borne from the failings of her party going against its core values?
Hopefully the SDs have the bigger picture in mind and steer clear.
She never apologised for attempting to decimate disability allowance by up to €88 per week in the 2012 budget. She backed FG all the way with stringent cutbacks affecting the lower paid and vulnerable in society, that on top of water rates and household charges. Now she’s grasping to find any way possible to regain power. Arrogance.
The only party to benefit would be Labour. Too toxic to touch. Avoid
If the SocDems go anywhere near Liebour not only will they lose any future vote from me but I’ll look into taking back the one I gave them last time
Labour are totally toxic and SD would be crazy to even think about it, as for the greens they may join them as Eamon Ryan is desperate to open his mouth and spew garbage. Similar to the dodgy lights bulbs he was extolling.
Joan Burton when you were in opposition i thought you were the greatest woman since i don’t know when you wanted so much for the Irish people. All that changed when you got in a yes woman nothing but on your knees to Enda , not a true Labour Woman.
And stop copying my hair style!
And your voice Chewy…
If the SD’s have any respect for the people who voted for them and wish to grow as a party then they will stay clear of Labour
Not many people voted for them in all fairness.
She and her Colleagues need to resign this evening as the voted against her government as abstaining is a vote of no confidence in FG
Bert
If that should happen i will never vote for Roisin Shortall again
Not sure if the SocDems or Greens need a waffle machine.
She is off her rocker! If the soc dems joined up I for one won’t ever vote for them again and would encourage anybody that listens to do the same
I am a member of and a early substantial personaldonor to the Social Democrats. If the Social Democrats ally with Labour, I will resign from the Social Democrats. I abandoned Labour for its gross betrayals. I want nothing to do with that contemptible party. Others in Social Democrats may not feel the same way but I supported the Social Democrats for sincerity and principle. I will not remain if it throws in its lot with traitors.
Not her again! Sick of looking at her!!!!
Joan is like Captain Smith of Titanic, she has eventually gained some insight when the ship she steered is destined for the bottom of the oacen.We all learn from hindsight, but Joan sadly lacks insight.
F@€k off back to obscurity, Joanie. Nobody want to hear you.
Nooooooooo
Can’t imagine Joan doing anything with the SD’s. Its silly. Why would the SD’s wanna hang out with joan? They’re like chalk and cheese. They’re different class. Donnelly knows what he’s talking about, Joan has proven she doesn’t have a clue.
Imagine a media event with Donnelly and Joan, Donnelly can talk about complex economic issues, all you’ll get from Joan is “Can I just say, bad Sinn Fein blah blah blah….”.
Can’t see how anything can come of this. The Social Democrats are a party on the rise, Labour are a residue of a Party on the way out.
Besides, the SD’s all have Iphones…
Who else is Joan Brutal going to sell her soul to next?
The Troika Strip Club, a club where the Troika strips the assets of E.U. countries for their pals lol.
Greens and Labour suit each other, two parties that sold their souls but for the SD’s it would political suicide, although it wouldn’t surprise me.
What would that deal be for now, just to keep shouting across the floor. I’d say she needs to do a deal with the Labour Party.
The SD’s need to steer clear of any alliance with this moribund and toxic party. Labour has to go away and completely reform itself…( as in DUMP Burton Howlin and Kelly) then maybe SD’s would accept THEM.
Did anybody find Joan ”Frankfurter” Burtons conscience?
It’s offshore.
She left it with her heart in old San Francisco or is that San Frankfurt lol.
Good idea could only be positive.
Labour looking for friends, no one wants them only fg,they are toxic,insignificant
The people of the country have voted for labour and the green party to not exist. I am sure very few people want them to become one. They are all just power mad and looking for thier big salaries and pensions.
Joan will do nothing. Firstly she won’t be the leader of the Labour party and secondly she won’t regain her seat after the next election this year.
Finally, a Social Democratic and Labour Party for the south
The grand coalition of FFG ,( if it happens )can only help parties like the SD’s and the Green’s. Sadly and I do mean it , the Irish labour party have lost their way. They have betrayed everything they are supposed to stand for . The fact the the worst of them survived is kinda surprising but even being associated with them at this stage would damage you. The Greens/SD’s have 5 combined, there are even a couple of independents I could see joining the SD’s . Just stay as far away from Joan and Alan as they can.
If some thing like Liebour is toxic ,it would be wise to give it a wide berth ,At the moment Joney/Moany and her 6 comrades are like nuclear waste ,any party that comes in contact would be regarded as toxic too
So, Joan do you think either of those parties want to be associated with the business of cancelling discretionary medical cards for children with life threatening diseases in hospital, or torturing their very ordinary working class parents driven mental trying to pay for their children’s treatment?……get a life Joan and dump Alex White who defended this policy…..meanwhile find a rock and crawl under it.
Here is how I see this panning out if it goes ahead. Labour, Greens and Democrats form an alliance with Joan as leader. Joan goes and has a lovely meeting with Enda. Deal is made. New government is formed of FG + Labour Alliance.
Labour must die out soon. It’s controlled by cynical geriatrics – they can’t go on for ever…..or is there a Transylvanian connection??
And pigs can fly…
Ohh yea Joan…
Oh Yeah Joan…
They might if she steps down, after the last election results she might be seen as the poison chalice to any politician or party that might want to do that?
After that election result she will have to go as leader if Labour has any hope for the future in my view.
Huuuuh
Mm
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