Speaking after Finance Minister Conor Murphy admitted that “we needed to be in the market a couple of weeks earlier”, PBP MLA Gerry Carroll calls out Executive ‘incompetence’ and urges action on requisitioning production of PPE do the right thing.’
‘Conor Murphy’s admission today that his department didn’t move quickly enough to secure PPE is indicative of the shambolically sluggish approach the Executive has taken to this crisis.
‘Let’s not forget, this admission that “we needed to be in the market a couple of weeks earlier” comes just days after Murphy appeared to lead the public to believe a shipment of PPE was on its way, when the order was never placed.
‘This is clearly the height of incompetence, which would be bad enough in normal times, but in the current context could seriously put lives at risk.
‘There really is no good excuse for having waited weeks to order PPE when shortages and pleas from healthcare workers have been widely reported for weeks. Indeed, PBP have been demanding it since the virus was first reported.
‘Neither is there any excuse for continuing to rely upon the market to secure the necessary PPE.
‘The fact that market competition scuppered the PPE order from China, as highlighted by Murphy himself, shows clearly that relying on market forces which promote profit over need is not good enough.
‘The Executive should move to immediately requisition the production of not only PPE but ventilators and testing kits.
‘Stormont shoulders the blame for our sluggish approach thus far, but it also holds the ability to turn that approach on its head and save lives. I’m calling on the Executive to do the right thing.’ ENDS
