McGrath: Political fallouts hampered pandemic response
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said political fallouts hampered the North’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He was speaking after the UK’s Covid-19 Inquiry published its first report on Thursday.
South Down MLA Mr McGrath said: “I want to commend the UK Covid-19 Inquiry for their work hearing evidence and publishing their report into the pandemic preparedness of the UK, and specifically Northern Ireland.
“It was a painstaking process, but has laid bare where the inadequacies were, and what lessons need to be learned.
“My thoughts are with the families of all those who lost a loved one to this illness and those with long-term health challenges as a result, I know today will have been particularly difficult for them.
“The inquiry still has further work to do, but the Executive must now take on board the findings of this report and show that they are ready to act upon them.
“It’s clear that political fallouts hampered our preparedness for a pandemic and we need commitment from the DUP and Sinn Féin that they will not collapse the institutions again.
“The people of the North must never again be placed in the situation where important decisions need to be made, yet no ministers were in place to make them.
“Thankfully we have come through the pandemic, but there is still a need for the Executive to show the political maturity the public deserve.
“Whether that is through publishing the long-awaited Programme for Government, or following the recommendations of the Covid-19 Inquiry, the days of inaction and deadlock must be firmly behind us,” added Colin McGrath.
