Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very welcome to the House. It has been over two years since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Globally, it has taken more than 6 million lives. On the island of Ireland more than 10,000 people have died. Thankfully, however, because of the Minister's and the Department's work and the miraculously swift vaccine roll-out, many lives have been saved and we have been able to return to some kind of normality. I must mention, however, that these miracle vaccines remain inaccessible in much of the world, a fact that reflects rather poorly on us in the developed world. To vaccinated people, Covid-19 poses much less of a threat than it once did. That is an immense relief, and policymaking has rightly changed to reflect that development. However, we cannot forget the large number of people who remain vulnerable and those who suffer persistent illness after contracting Covid-19. This House voted to support a full TRIPS waiver in December. Unfortunately, when it appeared there was hope for a waiver, it quickly became apparent that a full TRIPS waiver was still being blocked. The global south is still not being given equitable access to vaccination. If we are serious about ending the public health emergency, we need a full TRIPS waiver and no more evasions or delays to equitable global access to vaccination.

The removal of mask mandates on public transport was, I believe, premature and put at risk those who provide and rely on public transport, as my colleagues, Senators Higgins and Flynn, raised in the House last February. We need to consider the reintroduction of mask mandates in enclosed indoor public settings. It has overwhelming public support. A recent Amárach Research poll found that 65% of respondents favoured mask mandates in public indoor spaces. Mandating masks in certain public spaces such as public transportation and supermarkets means that those individuals trying to reduce their risk of exposure are supported. We should acknowledge that sections of the trade union movement representing some of the most at-risk workers, such as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, and the National Bus and Rail Union, NBRU, have called for the reintroduction of a mask mandate in certain settings. The pandemic has been a lesson in just how much we rely on the labour of healthcare and public transportation workers. When they ask us to reintroduce measures that protect their health and safety while at work, we should demonstrate real gratitude by taking action on their behalf. A poll by AA Ireland found that 41% of people indicated that they were less likely to use public transportation after the end of the requirement for mask wearing. Just 4% said they were more likely to use public transport services. The lapse of this measure has therefore made our public services less accessible to the public. I have heard from people who are older or otherwise medically vulnerable whose mobility has been limited by their feeling unsafe on public transportation. That is a really worrying situation. Public spaces should feel safe and accessible to everyone.

I wish to touch on a publication produced by the Joint Committee on Health about vitamin D deficiency in Ireland and its relation to Covid-19 outcomes. The report looked at studies done around the world that found that increased levels of vitamin D produced better public health outcomes when dealing with the pandemic. Finland, for example, a country that mandated that certain food products be enriched with high levels of vitamin D, has the lowest number of Covid cases and deaths in the EU. The report recommended that vitamin D supplements be given to healthcare workers, care home residents and medically vulnerable individuals. It also suggested that the supplements be available at Covid testing locations. These recommendations should be revisited.

Finally, I wish to highlight comments made by John Wenger, chair of the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of Covid-19. He expressed disappointment with the lack of Government action to support the delivery of ventilation upgrades, despite the delivery of two reports in 2021 that showed that ventilation is an essential element of an effective public health response. Ventilation is essential to creating a long-term strategy of dealing with Covid. We all want to limit the spread of this disease while imposing on people's lives as minimally as possible. It is a significant challenge, but that does not excuse the stalled progress in this area. These are ways in which we can reduce the impact of Covid on many people's lives. We cannot ignore this Covid wave, so let us take common-sense action and keep people safe.