“We are being
asked to scrutinise whether or not a joint order was made by the Stormont
Executive and the Dail for PPE in China.
There certainly
should be a coordinated approach North and South but there are actions Stormont
Executive parties and the Dail have not been willing to act on when it comes to
PPE, Covid-19 test kits and ventilators.
They haven’t been
willing to put public health ahead of private companies raking in massive
profits in the midst of this crisis. This is why their response has been slow,
inadequate and putting lives at risk.
When the WHO
declared Covid-19 a global pandemic on January 30 manufacturers should have
been directed by Westminster, Stormont and the Dail repurpose production to
mass produce PPE. This didn’t happen and now we’re scrambling to get them from
China. It can still happen.
For testing of
Covid-19 and mass testing, Randox Laboratories in Crumlin, Antrim, should be
put under public control.
Randox has received
tens of millions in public money but have be allowed to go on a profiteering
binge. Instead of being directed to mass produce testing kits as part of an
integrated all-Ireland health strategy they’ve been able to charge exorbitant
prices. Prince Charles, Boris Johnson and elites get tested while workers and
the sick don’t. Put Randox under public control now.
Randox pays Tory MP
Owen Patterson £100,00 a year and have been allowed to put profits for
shareholders ahead of people and profit. The rich and powerful shouldn’t have
access to testing when frontline workers can’t.
Thirdly, Medtronic
based in Galway, is a global manufacturer of life-saving ventilators. Medtronic
should also be put under public control to produce thousands of ventilators for
health services North and South.
Business can’t go
on as usual in response to this crisis. Private companies can’t be allowed to
put profiteering ahead of people and health. These are actions that should be
taken but the political establishment, so long subservient to powerful
corporations, won’t contemplate them unless they come under pressure to do so.
We need to keep pressing and demanding.”