We need all-ireland co-operation to crush threat of Covid-19 or political reputations could be damaged

PROFESSOR Gabriel Scally (News, May 21) lays out a Swot (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)-type analysis of our pandemic challenges.

Ireland’s island status offers an opportunity to crush (or radically diminish) the virus’s spread by following the successful example of New Zealand.

Professor Scally notes the benefit of urgently fixing contact tracing across Ireland and having rigorous checks at our airports and seaports. But are Michelle O’neill and Arlene Foster up to the task?

Rebecca Black (News, May 21) describes our leaders’s discussions around the need for a “permanent memorial to the people who have died, so that they just don’t end up as statistics”.

The people of England have learnt that careless application of science by political leaders can cost tens of thousands of lives. Talk of memorials is premature in the opening phase of the pandemic.

I spoke with an exhausted ICU worker yesterday, who described an emotional and exhausting roller-coaster, as many lives hung by a thread.

The First and Deputy First Ministers should pay careful heed to the wise advice of Professor Scally. The public

artwork Mrs Foster and Ms O’neill need to be considering is a simple one: a pair of marble donkeys beneath the plinth of Lord Carson at Stormont.

Failing to seize the chance of all-ireland co-operation to crush Covid-19 is asinine and may come at a cost of political reputations and careers.

Rigorous air-travel restrictions and contact tracing policy has paid a handsome dividend in New Zealand.

We should demand complete professionalism and relentless pursuit of success from our own politicians.

NAME AND ADDRESS WITH EDITOR