Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Catherine Connolly TD, has hit out at the government for their approach to Covid restrictions, accusing them of unfairly “demonising” unvaccinated people.
The remarks were made by the independent Galway West TD yesterday during a Dáil debate on how the country would recover from the impact of Covid-19.
Catherine Connolly on the demonisation of unvaxxed people by members of the government and the difficulty in Ireland to have any kind of real discussion on alternative views. pic.twitter.com/YD6KOewvES
— JRD (@JRD0000) October 21, 2021
“It is becoming extremely difficult to raise any questions in this country about civil rights or alternative views in dealing with the pandemic,” Connolly said.
She went on to mention that the Irish Council for Civil Liberties had insisted that while they support the government’s vaccine rollout, “We believe vaccination, and all medical treatment, should be a choice.”
“I believe that as well and that vaccination should be voluntary,” Connolly said.
“The strong message should be to encourage and not demonise. But, unfortunately, the Minister’s speech continues that narrative. The Taoiseach did this as well and it is an unacceptable narrative.”
She went so far as to dub the government’s approach “counterproductive.”
“The Government legislation on vaccines has created an infrastructure aimed at segregating and risk-scoring individuals on their health basis,” she said.
“The Irish Council for Civil Liberties warned in July that this set a dangerous precedent. I fully agree with it.”
She added: “We are 18 months into the pandemic and there is no evidence of any human rights impact assessment by the Government of Covid-related legislation, despite repeated calls from me, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and others.”
Connolly previously said that the way the vaccine passport laws were introduced made her “lose all trust” in the democratic system.
The Leas Ceann Chomarile, Catherine Connolly TD, has said that the government’s handling of vaccine certs has made her “lose all trust in the democratic system.”#gripthttps://t.co/Um92gSAnR5
— gript (@griptmedia) July 19, 2021