Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their contributions. It is a fascinating discussion. It seems that vitamin D is the new vitamin C in some ways. It all points towards us all taking it. Is there a link or are there discussion papers on vitamin D deficiency and depression among those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder? The vast majority of the prison population in Ireland and other countries are men and the vast majority do not get any daylight as such. Has there been a study on deficiency among this population? I ask the witnesses to comment on this. What do the witnesses say with regard to general recommendations on vitamin D? Should everybody take it? Could it be prescribed in the same way as folic acid is to pregnant women? Could we generalise prescribing vitamin D? What do the witnesses recommend to the Government with regard to vitamin D? For instance, the VAT could be removed from vitamin D in particular. A country such as Iceland gets very little daylight at certain times of the year. How does it counteract deficiency? If I get this right, vitamin D is sunshine and light. People who live in Mediterranean countries have a better climate and there is much more sunlight and warmth. Is there a correlation between Covid in these areas and deficiency in vitamin D?