The Rural Independent Group have said they have deep-seated concerns regarding the government’s “potential manipulation” of the proposed Covid Inquiry. In a statement today, the Rural TDs claimed that the “long overdue” proposed inquiry into how Ireland handled Covid could be designed as a political shield.
The Independent TDs said today that there was an “urgent demand” for transparency and independent oversight in order to safeguard accountability.
The statement, released through Tipperary Independent and Rural Independent leader Deputy Mattie McGrath, warned that rather than serving as an impartial examination of Ireland’s pandemic response, the Inquiry could be “strategically designed to shield political interests.” The TD underscored the need for an unbiased inquiry which would raise “pivotal questions” about the efficacy of public health measures and would highlight “global disparities” in the approach taken to the Covid crisis.
Speaking from Tipperary, Deputy Mattie McGrath said:
“Our Covid inquiry must probe into various issues, particularly the effectiveness of public health restrictions. The extended closures of schools, churches, and businesses together with cancelled health appointments and restrictive movements warrant a comprehensive investigation.”
He pointed to research from Sweden, which refused mandatory lockdowns, school closures, and mask mandates. Total excess deaths were smaller in Sweden than in any other European country during the three years of the pandemic (2020-2022) after the country’s government opted for voluntary adoption of measures rather than government force.
Referring to the data regarding Sweden, Deputy McGrath said:
“The remarkable findings about Sweden, as indicated by recent OECD research about both lockdown and mask refusals and school closures during the pandemic, should challenge our assumptions. Sweden focused on protecting the most vulnerable while keeping society functioning. From this perspective, it seemed like the rest of the world was engaging in a risky, unprecedented experiment.”
“According to separate data from Statistics Sweden, its pandemic excess death rate was the lowest in Europe and half that of Ireland,” Deputy McGrath added.
“In Ireland, the harsh pandemic restrictions were often justified by the precautionary principle, which advised against acting until sufficient evidence was available. However, no evidence exists suggesting that the government’s drastic measures were necessary. In uncertain times, it is not precautionary to place all policy reliance on one approach, thereby exacerbating the health crisis by destabilising communities, the economy, and education. This seems more like negligence than precaution,” he said.
“The Irish inquiry is long overdue. The government’s claim that political finger-pointing can be avoided while those in power avoid accountability is troubling.”
“CSO data reveals a concerning rise in the death rate from 6.3 per 1,000 in 2012 to 7 per 1,000 in 2022, equating to an additional 700 deaths annually per million people. This significant detail, overlooked in the OECD report, demands scrutiny.”
The leader of the Rural Independents said that the “rush” to welcome the recent OECD report on Covid-19 “raises suspicions.”
“Closer examination reveals potential incomplete data for Ireland, casting doubt on the accuracy of the government’s narrative. Its embracing of the report appears disingenuous, seemingly tailored to support a preferred narrative,” Deputy McGrath said.
Deputy McGrath continued: “Health regulator HIQA reported 2,019 excess deaths in Ireland between March 2020 and November 2021. Despite these findings, there was no government commentary or press release on either occasion.”
“If the Covid inquiry is about providing political cover,” he said, “it will be a complete waste of time and resources. That is why I call for an independent expert to chair the inquiry, ensuring transparency through publicly available hearings and meetings,” concluded Deputy Mc Grath.
While Ireland awaits a planned Inquiry into the handling of Covid, last month, the UK’s Covid Inquiry heard that WhatsApp messages sent by former Stormont ministers during the pandemic had been lost after government-issued electronic devices were wiped. These included devices of former first minister Baroness Arlene Foster, along with Deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill. It prompted counsel to the Inquiry, Clair Dobbin, to express “grave concern” on behalf of their legal team over the loss.
Preliminary hearings into Stormont’s response have taken place.