David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. It is almost impossible to go through all the submissions in the ten minutes we have. I am sure all other contributors will have the same problem because there is so much that can be said. I thank them for their comprehensive briefing notes and opening statements. I commend all the members of their organisations and the front-line staff across all our healthcare settings on the huge sacrifices that were made and work that was undertaken over the past number of months.

I will start with the INMO. Ms Ní Sheaghdha referred to the international average of Covid-19 rates among healthcare workers. It is 1% in Singapore, 12% in Italy, 15% in Mexico, 22% in Spain, and 32% in this State, which is one of the highest percentages among the countries cited. Can Ms Ní Sheaghdha explain why that rate was so high in Ireland compared to other countries?