A chara, – It is disappointing that our Covid inquiry will not in fact be an inquiry at all but rather an “evaluation” (“Government’s Covid ‘evaluation’ to be voluntary, with no powers of compellability”, News, October 31st).
I believe in any event that our focus should urgently shift to a pressing issue that has significant implications for public health in Ireland: the alarming rate of excess deaths. It is an issue that has received scant media attention.
According to Eurostat, Ireland’s excess deaths for August 2024 were an astonishing 19.3 per cent above the baseline. We have been in double figures every month since March, and we are unique in this regard in the EU. Our figures are way above average for a period in which some countries are sometimes recording negative excess mortality rates (including Sweden).
It is imperative that we conduct a comprehensive evaluation to understand the factors contributing to this disturbing trend, which may include healthcare access, the long-term impacts of the pandemic and the restrictions imposed here.
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Rather than prolonging the focus solely on the Covid inquiry, we must prioritise an assessment of current excess deaths.
The health and well-being of our citizens depend on it. – Yours, etc,
REAMONN O’LUAN,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – Finally, four years on, an inquiry is announced by the man who thought there were 18 other corona viruses for which a cure was not found (”Simon Harris sorry for ‘awful boo-boo’ about 18 viruses before Covid-19″, News, April 22nd, 2020).
What exactly is the point of an inquiry which has no ability to compel witnesses or documents?
Besides being years too late, the inquiry will be like trying to look at something blindfolded and with one hand tied behind your back.
However, on the doorsteps the TikTok Taoiseach will be able to claim that another of his promises from the last election was met. – Yours, etc,
ANTAINE O’DUIBHIR,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – The terms of reference for the Government’s Covid inquiry will come as a deep disappointment to relatives who lost loved ones in nursing homes.
The inquiry is toothless, given that it does not have the power to compel documents or witnesses.
There are individual nursing homes in this country where dozens of people died during Covid where there are very legitimate questions about whether negligence and cost-cutting were factors in the tragedy that unfolded.
It will come as a deep disappointment to relatives who lost loved ones in these nursing homes that the Government has decided to opt for a soft inquiry which is denied the power to compel documents and witnesses.
Clarity should be provided as to whether the inquiry will have access to Covid-related texts and WhatsApp messages between senior politicians and State officials and whether the inquiry’s proceedings will be televised, as was the case in the UK. – Yours, etc,
MICK BARRY TD,
People Before Profit – Solidarity,
Cork North Central,
Dáil Éireann,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2.