Taoiseach should lead by Example, Stay at home and Invite US President to Ireland for St Patricks Day 2022

Aontú Deputy Leader & Mid Ulster Cllr Denise Mullen has called on the southern government to lead by example and invite the US President to Ireland next year for St Patrick’s Day as an alternative travelling to DC in a few weeks’ time.

Cllr Mullen: “2nd to the Nursing Homes Scandal, International Travel has been the big failure of this and the previous government. From Leo Varadkar refusing to stop the flights from Northern Italy despite the rampant Covid-19 there, to the Cheltenham punters, to Fruit Pickers travelling to Ireland from all over the EU, to the non-mandatory personal locator forms or the mandatory personal locator forms that were ignored in the hundreds of thousands, to promised mandatory self-isolation, to postponing mandatory isolation, the lack of control on International Travel has been a disaster.

63% of people with Covid-19 now have the British Variant. Had our Airports been protected this variant could have been stopped.

“In this context and after all the health and economic destruction that the country has just gone through, the Taoiseach wants to fly off to Washington. People cannot attend a family funeral or travel more than 5km for home. Its incredible that the Taoiseach seeks to travel 5,000 km to the US. Families right across the country are struggling like never before. Many will feel that the Taoiseach’s trip would provide licence for others to follow his example. The Dáil is sitting about 1/3 of the time due to Covid. Its Bizarre that a government would say ‘oh no we can't take questions for the Minister for Health today in the Dáil today because of Covid’ but in the same breath say ’but the Taoiseach and his team can fly off to meet hundreds of people in Washington DC”.

The Taoiseach must show leadership. He must roll up his sleeves, put himself in the shoes of citizens and lead by example”.

“The relationship between Ireland and the US is critical both in terms of our diaspora and our economy. The Taoiseach could build on the close relationship with a US President, who is already very well disposed to Ireland, remotely for one year. If he seeks to further build on that relationship, the Taoiseach could invite the President of the US to Ireland for St Patrick’s day 2022.

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.