Opinion

Put all political posturing aside in the interest of citizens’ health

The world we live in is evolving at such a rate that it is almost impossible to keep track of the myriad of growing demands expected of us to try and stymie a virus that is a growing threat to the lives of thousands of people worldwide. This epidemic is causing a meltdown in economies that are already struggling to get to grips with this virulent form of infection which, as yet, there is no identifiable cure available. What is becoming a reality is that severe measures of containment are necessary to limit or slow the contagious march of this unseen enemy. The Republic’s governmental departments are doing their best to stay abreast of the situation as cases multiply.

However, there are those like the hundreds of self-serving travellers who would not heed advice on staying put, because they could not miss their yearly soiree to the Cheltenham races, and more than likely had either empty pockets, full pockets or carrying a virus home with them to add further unnecessary  strain on the HSE.

Then of course to add to the confusion you have to contend with ‘buffoon Boris’ who is reading from a different script altogether. He is of the view that its okay to risk a mass infection rate so that it will be over sooner rather than later. Schools open, concerts going full swing, shoppers on Oxford Street milling around as if it were black Friday sales day. His estranged sidekick on this side of the Irish Sea, Arlene Foster,  says that she follows the advice of her government which puts the common sense approach straight into the dustbin. Just imagine taking advice from Boris Johnson?

The Scottish Parliament are taking a more proactive stance in line with the rest of Europe.

As in all cases of impending doom there has to light at the end of the tunnel. This virus will blow over but at what cost to our elderly and infirm who are most at risk? Out of all situations that have negative connotations, positivity will emerge and we may well be the better for it in the long run.

That is if people act more responsibly in their day-to-day interactions.

Banks should suspend repayments on family home mortgages, small to medium businesses alongside the self-employed who should receive immediate benefits to alleviate stress of loss of income.

There should be a national government formed immediately putting political posturing aside in the interest of citizens’ health. Britain did it after the Second World War, so why can’t we?

JAMES WOODS


Gort an Choirce, Dún na nGall

A united Ireland approach to comprehensively tackle Coronavirus is needed

LAST Saturday’s meeting in Armagh between Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney, Simon Harris, Arlene Foster, Michelle O’Neill and Robin Swann highlights the absurdity of divergent approaches to tackling Covid-19. It flies in the face of basic logic that approaches to safe guarding public health would differ between six counties and 26 counties on this island.

It is time that politicians in the north in particular wake up to the seriousness of the real threat posed to all people and that they heed calls, such as those of Archbishop Eamon Martin, to close schools.


Adhering to the reckless approach of the British government, as Stormont has done so far, adds to the danger posed by Covid-19 and hinders Ireland’s collective ability to tackle the virus.

Given the reckless behaviour of the British government in the consideration of herd immunity as a response to Covid-19, the common travel area between Britain and Ireland needs to reviewed and possibly suspended.


All those traveling to Ireland from Britain now need to be risk assessed. We need to establish an all-Ireland approach to prioritising public health. The continuation of the common travel area is a direct threat to Irish public health, north and south, and it needs to be suspended. We need to learn the lessons of history and recognise the importance of treating the Irish Sea as the border with Britain in defeating the foot and mouth disease. Failing to do that will have serious consequences for all our people.”

PEADAR TÓIBIN TD


Aontú party leader

Everyone should have an understanding of Ireland’s history

Tom Collins – ‘The storm of history has beached us where we are now’ (March 9) – feels that “history belongs in books”, but the opposite is true for people here. There is a real need to ensure that everyone here has a solid understanding of Ireland’s history from plantation and the Ulster Scots tradition, via Cromwell and the Penal Laws through Home Rule, partition and the Troubles. A glaring example of this is the widespread lack of understanding and analysis of the causes and consequences of the Great Famine, undoubtedly the single most devastating and important event in this island’s history and whose effects echo through the ages to this day. Should we ignore the Holocaust as it’s been a while now hasn’t it? We should not live in the past but we must look to and learn from our past to equip future generations with the skills to make decisions about their future.


To pretend we live in a post-history society is to do our youth a huge disservice.

DAMIEN BENNETT


Belfast BT6

Worrying concept for pensioners

As a pensioner I was a firm supporter and member of Age Sector Platform and attended many People’s Parliaments. During one of these we were informed by the commissioner for the elderly that through the devolved administration, Northern Ireland is the only part of  the UK where doctors can legally withhold treatment from a patient, based on age. Given the current increasing Covid-19 crisis, which poses the greater threat to the elderly throughout the UK, can we, in Northern Ireland, be assured of quality care equal to that of our fellow citizens?


This is a worrying concept locally and merits probing  for confirmation and reaction, if true.


I would hope that The Irish News would be interested on our behalf, because to date I have contacted Good Morning Ulster, Stephen Nolan, Talkback, Sunday Sequence and Victoria Derbyshire and have been totally ignored.

MICHAEL SHIELDS


Newtownabbey, Co Antrim