The Taoiseach responded to calls for a human rights assessment on Covid-19 legislation, insisting that it's his job to "protect life and limb".
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stated that he is not in favour of a mandatory vaccination system for the Irish public and instead "wholeheartedly" supports the voluntary approach that is currently in place.
Martin's comments arrive as several European countries enter debates over whether or not to follow
Austria's recent lead and make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for all citizens.
On Tuesday, World Health Organisation Europe director Hans Kluge said that a mandatory vaccination system represents an "absolute last resort".
Speaking during Leaders' Questions in Dáil Éireann on Wednesday, the Taoiseach once again talked up the importance of the vaccine booster programme amidst reports of
tens of thousands of no-shows for appointments throughout the country.
When given his turn to speak, TD Mattie McGrath once more used contentious language, describing the Covid pass as "medical apartheid" and requesting evidence that the measure successfully ceased transmission of the virus.
Asked by Deputy Catherine Connolly when a human rights assessment on Covid-19 legislation would take place, the Taoiseach denied "putting more responsibility on children", clarifying that he acknowledged the difficulties faced by children and by young Irish people in general.
"Their lives and have been completely and utterly... in many ways, the quality of it has been reduced by the pandemic," he said.
"It's the pandemic. It's Covid-19 [that] is driving all of this. Those in the engine room have to keep going to protect people – we don't actually have the luxuries to be doing all the comprehensive evaluations that people would like us to do.
"We're very mindful of the issues of people in their daily lives – people are fed up with this pandemic," the Taoiseach continued.
"But I have to say again – what's the most fundamental human right of all? It's to protect life and limb. That's the fundamental obligation of Government, I would argue.
"And I'd go before any human rights commission and say my fundamental responsibility, and that of Government, is to protect people's lives, to take the expert advice and to assess it – in terms of; is that advice one that will protect people's lives and to go with it."
Featured Image via Julien Behal Photography / RollingNews.ie
