Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support what has been said by my colleagues on the committee. Obviously, this is an extraordinary event. No one is going to get everything right in respect of this, whether it is the Government, NPHET or this committee, but one thing is for sure, that is, that we will improve our decision-making processes if we discuss the issues and question people in respect of the decisions they are making. That is inevitably going to improve the decision-making process. Nobody is suggesting that we undermine NPHET or try in some way to second-guess its public health advice. We do, however, have to take account of factors that NPHET does not take into account. It is primarily motivated by public health considerations and directed by public health advice in respect of Covid. We, as elected representative of the people of Ireland, must consider other factors. It would be to the mutual benefit of everyone if the representatives made themselves available.