Marc MacSharry pushed bad science and promoted ableism must be condemned. A Zero-Covid approach must be pursued

It was revealed this weekend that back in October, Sligo-Leitrim Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry had put forth a research paper within his party, pushing for pubs and restaurants to be reopened. On a day that saw over a 1000 reported cases.

To call for re-opening as cases were surging is incredibly irresponsible. Furthermore, his reasoning that it mostly impacts disabled people so healthy abled bodied people should be allowed get on with their lives is overt ableism.

MacSharry has since said his views have changed with threat of variants. However, variants were a possibility from the start and the threat of variants does not change the fact that in October we knew how the virus spreads and the risks specifically within restaurants and pubs were well established.

MacSharry also cites the Swedish approach which initially gained traction amongst Covid deniers and anti-lockdown groups. Their logic being that since it mostly affects the disabled and the elderly, public health measures shouldn't be taken is almost word for word with MacSharry's reasoning. By October this strategy had been long established as the wrong approach. For example in August of last year the media reported Sweden had had its highest death toll in 150 years by June.

It should be noted MacSharry was right when he stated WHO doesn't recommend the lockdown approach his own party is taking. However, he neglects to point out how WHO promotes Testing, Tracing and Supported Isolation. Their expert view is that lockdowns don't stop the virus, that they should be localised and large-scale lockdowns means you've completely lost control of the situation.

Fianna Fáil have not implemented a robust testing and tracing system to contain the virus and have actively worked against a Zero-covid approach which would get us out of lockdowns. Picking and choosing what WHO says to suit an agenda is not a good public health approach.

It is one thing for covid deniers to push these narratives but beyond unacceptable that an elected rep would push for a strategy that not only puts the hospitality workers and the public but also pushes the flawed and bigoted reasoning that something is less serious if it affects disabled people - or that disabled people aren't also entitled to a normal life.

There are questions to be asked. Where did MacSharry get his “research”? Why does Michael Martin feel releasing what his TDs are pushing for publicly would put them off? Why would elected reps be afraid to publicly reveal what they are pushing for privately ? Has MacSharry's faced any consequences from his party for his ableist comments or is this deemed acceptable in Fianna Fail?

MacSharry is reported as saying he likes Sweden's personal responsibility approach, so we ask, where is his personal responsibility to be informed on basic facts of the pandemic. The responsibility not to push dangerous discredited approaches and address his ableism towards the disabled and older communities?