Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, my attention has been drawn to it and I have seen the analysis in the Irish Examiner. It seems there has been an increase in excess deaths this winter relative to other winters. It seems it is a phenomenon that is not unique to Ireland. It is an international one. I have asked the chief medical officer, CMO, for her opinion and advice on it. The likelihood is that it is related to a number of factors such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, and Covid-19 all circulating in the community. People's immunity is not what it was due to social distancing throughout the pandemic. People's immunity is not as strong as it would have been if they had been out and about picking up viruses. There is also the issue of unmet health needs - as large parts of our health service were effectively closed down during the pandemic restrictions, people did not get the healthcare they would otherwise have received. That is all only opinions at the moment. We do not have any data to back it up and I have asked the CMO for her thoughts on it.

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