Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 9 September 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Lord Sumption and Dr. Buquicchio for giving of their time and sharing their expertise. I direct my first questions to Lord Sumption. Obviously, the pandemic is an extraordinary event, but it is not an unprecedented one. However, the response of political systems in Ireland and around the world has been unprecedented. In terms of that political response, has too much emphasis has been placed on public health advice to the exclusion of other important factors that we, as politicians, should also be taking into account?