David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will ask a follow-up question. We heard very strong testimony from the trade unions this morning. One issue that came across was the directive given to front-line workers not to wear masks. The INMO said that at least one member of staff was disciplined for wearing a mask and that was a huge concern. Why was that decision made and that directive given to nurses and front-line staff not to wear masks in the early stages of the pandemic? Did that decision have an impact on the higher levels of contraction of the virus among healthcare workers?