Danny Healy-Rae Demands Investigation into Wuhan and WHO Access
Danny Healy-Rae challenged the Taoiseach over the origins of the coronavirus and demanded a formal investigation into events in Wuhan and the refusal of WHO investigators. He pressed whether the government had engaged with the World Health Organization or the United Nations and insisted a team be formed to find out what happened.
Questions on origins and investigation
Danny Healy-Rae said the coronavirus "wrecked our country", causing loss of life, jobs and businesses, and asked the Taoiseach if the state would investigate what happened in Wuhan and worldwide. He questioned whether the government had asked the WHO or the United Nations to look into the origins and impact of COVID-19.
Concerns about WHO access and new reports
The deputy highlighted reports that WHO investigators were refused entry to Wuhan and noted claims that another pneumonia-like virus was being reported there. He repeatedly asked whether Dublin would press for answers from the World Health Organization and the United Nations.
The Taoiseach's response on the WHO's role
The Taoiseach defended the World Health Organization as an essential body deserving support from UN member states, expressed regret that WHO access to Wuhan had been refused, and said a team of investigators had been due to try to identify the source of COVID-19 - not to assign blame but to understand how the virus originated and spread. He emphasised the WHO's role in public health and said it needs more support.
Closing of the exchange
The exchange ended abruptly as the deputy's speaking time elapsed, with repeated announcements that "the time is up" recorded in the transcript.
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As we all know, the coronavirus has wrecked our country, people have lost their lives, people have lost their jobs and their businesses, and the whole country is totally disrupted. This virus was reported and is reported to have originated in Wuhan in China. The WHO, who our government, or the last government, gave nine and a half million, sought to go into Wuhan before the end of last year, and they were refused and they were told that they won't be left in until maybe the 31st of January or not evening. Teachta, I'm asking you, what investigations, or what have we asked the WHO as to what has happened? Have we spoken to the United Nations? I mean, we have a sovereign country that has been impacted by this virus in a dreadful way, more so than if we were bombed, like we were bombed in Pearl Harbor. I'm asking you, Taoiseach, are you going to investigate what's happened? All right, thank you, Deputy. They're already saying now that there's another virus originating there, a pneumonia. Are you going to let this go on and on and on without making any team to find out what has happened or what they did to the whole world? Taoiseach. I believe in the World Health Organization. I think it's an essential body that deserves the support of all the member states of the United Nations. And it is regrettable that they've been refused entry into Wuhan. A team of investigators were due in there to try and identify the source and so on of COVID-19. Not in a blame sort of scenario, but rather to try and understand fully how the virus originated and how it would spread. And I believe that is necessary. And I hope that that situation can be resolved. And I think the World Health Organization plays an extraordinary effective role. It needs more support from member states of the United Nations. But it does play an extraordinary role in terms of the public health arena. And I've been involved in so many outbreaks of various diseases across the globe. And I've helped so many vulnerable countries and communities. Thank you very much. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up. The time is up.
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