A Sligo/Leitrim TD says he hopes a research paper he sent to the Taoiseach last October about how the Covid pandemic should be tackled will not be judged by the Level 5 situation that exists today.
Deputy Marc MacSharry had called on Micheal Martin to introduce Level 2 restrictions even though there were almost 1,100 Covid-19 cases on the day he sent the report to the Taoiseach.
Deputy MacSharry told Mr Martin last October that the virus was mostly impacting older people and those with pre-existing conditions and that a forced closure for younger, otherwise healthy people was questionable.
He also said there was little evidence that restaurants and pubs were responsible for the spread of the virus, adding that the ‘already reeling’ hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants and bars, was being decimated.
He explained that with Level 2 restrictions, he wanted increased enforcement of the so-called golden rules: mask wearing, avoidance of indoor crowds and basic hygiene.
The Taoiseach’s department had refused to release the paper Deputy MacSharry sent but this was appealed to the Information Commissioner.
Deputy MacSharry has been telling Ocean FM News about the research paper and what he was hoping to achieve at that time.
