Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Gabh mo leithscéal nach raibh mé ann ag an tús.I welcome the Minister of State.

In five, ten or 20 years' time when we look back at the last 11 months, or the first 11 months of the Covid pandemic experience, three enormous failures will be recalled. The first obviously was that towards elderly people in nursing homes. We will have to continue to reflect on that and the death toll that resulted.

The second failure is the decision to cancel so many oncology consultations during 2020. There are already indications from Dr. Greg Korpanty, in University Hospital, Limerick, and others that people are now presenting with more advanced cancers. Sadly, in the years to come they will pay a price for the decision within the health system to cancel oncology appointments.

The third great failure will be around the general mental and well-being of the population that has taken such a hammering. That was driven by three factors, in particular: unemployment and the destruction of so many businesses; the suspension of normal social life and separation or people who have been separated from their families; and the impact of the virus itself on so many people who have recovered from it.

I want to say a word about media coverage. With the endless stream of doom and gloom on the airwaves, particularly on our national broadcaster, I worry that it is taking a serious toll on even the most firm minded people.