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Northern Executive Leaves The North Under-Resourced & Exposed In Coronavirus Second Wave

Cllr for Mid Ulster & Aontú Deputy Leader Denise Mullen has lambasted the Northern Executive for its under-investment in hospital capacity which has left the people of the North exposed and necessitated a severe lockdown.



Cllr Mullen: “The WHO states that a full lockdown is only recommended to keep the pressure off hospitals and conserve hospital capacity where they are reaching breaking point. Due to the negligence of the Northern Executive and their abdication of duty towards our Health Service the system is under serious pressure. Several of our hospitals in the North are at 100% capacity and some. The demand for ICU beds far outstrips ICU capacity. Bed Occupancy stands at 98%. There are 36 Covid-19 patients currently in ICU, and 30 on ventilators. There have been 140 Covid outbreaks in care homes. This is truly shocking. The Executive have left the most vulnerable, the most exposed. There is a clear argument now for bed capacity in the south to be used for people in need in the north. The fact that we are not integrating health capacity north and south is a real mistake.



“It is unacceptable that we have reached a point whereby the weight of this fight is being put on the shoulders of the people. Churches and businesses are being shut down again to try bail out the failures of the Northern Executive to expand hospital capacity. There is no confidence to be had in the Northern Executive’s handling of the pandemic. We exit one lockdown, have a week’s break before going back into an even harsher lockdown. Then despite the forecast of a second wave, the Northern Executive failed to prepare our hospitals in the case of a bad second wave. There has been no rhyme nor reason to their approach. It is unacceptable, and has put the people of the North in heightened danger because of the Executive’s failures.

By Aontú Press | 25 November, 2020



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The Irish political system is radically broken



In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.



Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.



Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.




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