Sir, – This evening, November 30th, primary schools circulated a notification from the Department of Education with regards to face masks for children from 3rd to 6th class.
Within the notification it was stated that “Nphet have recommended…and that they (Nphet) have advised that this measure is being introduced on a temporary basis”. This is backed up by a letter dated December 1st, the following day, from Dr Holohan to “Dear Parent/Guardian”.
So we now find that our chief medical officer seems not only to determine the implementation of “measures” but also to be able, presidential style, to directly address the citizens, not just through Twitter as before, but now also through the Department of Education via the Department of Health.
Fintan O'Toole (Opinion, November 30th) pointed out that we had effectively ended up with three centres of power: the Government, the Health Service Executive and the chief medical officer/Nphet. How depressing to see the Government has allowed the chief medical officer become the dominant force.
O’Toole ended by saying that the way we govern ourselves is supposed to be through transparent and accountable democracy. It seems this is not so.
– Yours, etc
PETER STEWART,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.