We are currently in the midst of the biggest health crisis our global society has ever faced.
As joint head of government in the Executive, my priority is to save lives and keep people safe. There is no doubt that all ministers share that priority.
But we are a five-party coalition and that naturally means there is a diversity of views on how we achieve our objective, but we will get through this crisis through shared leadership and collective responsibility.
The Assembly and Executive is a devolved administration. We can be handcuffed to nobody. Our emphasis must be on a regional approach which responds to our circumstances. While we have two jurisdictions, we are one island.
The Covid-19 pandemic does not respect borders.
Cooperation and common action across our island are vital at this time.
This week ministers from the Executive and Irish government met to agree common action and coordination and an agreement formalising this will be signed imminently.
While there are of course different views decisions have to be taken fast, and on a cross-departmental basis by all ministers in the public interest.
No effort will be spared in that objective.
Working together we have already targeted budget resources to health and other key areas as part of the fightback.
?We have brought in new legislative powers and enforcement regime to protect the public, set out an extensive public information campaign you now hear on radio and see on TV, as you stay at home during this crucial period.
The bravery and commitment of our frontline health and social care workers, the doctors and nurses, the orderlies and cleaners, the ambulance service, those in residential and care homes, domiciliary care workers and others is remarkable.
I have been meeting with some of these workers over recent weeks to thank them and listen to their experiences as they work to keep us safe.
Many have serious concerns about key issues in the fightback against Covid-19. I share these concerns particularly around the three key issues of ;
- Testing
- Personal protection equipment; and
- Community lock-down.
As a political leader, I have a duty to reflect and to try to address these very real and valid ?concerns and to bring them to the Executive.
I have called for medical staff and health and social care workers to be tested in greater numbers and at a faster pace, as they are vital staff working to save lives and keep people safe.
Everyone with Covid-19 symptoms should be tested followed by contact tracing, testing and isolation in the community.
HSC staff and care home workers caring for vulnerable patients at risk of Covid-19 need to be supplied with Personal Protection Equipment because of the obvious risk of infection to them and to their families
I will continue to raise these critical issues with the health minister and the chief medical officer.
We need to people to stay at home to ensure their safety, and to stop the spread of this virus.?
People must stay at home where possible?to save the lives of our most vulnerable citizens and those who care for them.
We have announced a strong package of economic and social welfare benefits measures to give people peace of mind and businesses a fair bit of security over the coming weeks to safeguard the economy and livelihoods.
We will continue to hold the British government to account on the delivery of these packages to ensure they get to those who need them.
As this crisis deepens, we need to act together and decisively on a personal level and as an Executive, if we are to reduce the numbers of deaths in the weeks ahead.?
Let’s do what’s right, not what’s easy.
No effort can be spared in to achieve this end.
