Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I spoke to the Chief Medical Officer, CMO, during the week about the reopening of schools and he is of the belief that it has worked well. There is a very close relationship between public health and education providers and there has been since the beginning. A specific advisory team has been advising the education sector in respect of the reopening of schools and the return of children to school. By and large, over time, its advice has been effective and well placed. Sometimes I have seen unions disagree with that advice and call for this, that and the other but public health advice must be the anchor for everything we do in the context of a global pandemic. Politicians cannot make it up as they go along either. There is a tendency to listen to the first group that comes to us, trot out what they have said and suggest that is the solution. There must be some degree of consistency in approach and public health has to be at the centre of it. It can be frustrating at times and I accept Deputy Gannon's point-----

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