Mattie McGrath urges removal of school masks after petition
Mattie McGrath called for the removal of masks for young children in the Inioge, in national schools and secondary schools. He said he will hand in a petition signed by three ordinary parents and grandparents, 14,300, and argued that masks are punitive and harmful.
Petition and demand
McGrath said he intends to hand over a petition signed by "three ordinary parents and grandparents, 14,300" pleading for masks to be taken away in schools. He urged that children be allowed to smile and see the expressions of teachers, friends and siblings.
Claims of harm and welfare concerns
He described school mask rules as punitive and said they amounted to "a form of child abuse," arguing the measure causes strife, ill health, stress and trauma for pupils. He called for the measure to be dispensed with for the sake of children's wellbeing.
Boards of management and legal risks
The deputy warned that voluntary boards of management could face lawsuits over mask policies while also expressing praise for boards and teaching staff, saying they do great work. He referred to the rule as the "cornean measure" and urged its removal.
Public health defence and follow-up
In response, another speaker noted McGrath's consistently negative view of restrictions and defended the mask recommendation as an honourable attempt to protect children and teachers. That speaker said the advice was made in consultation with education stakeholders and indicated there would be a meeting and further advice on the issue.
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I'm a believer, and I think you were as well, of Muller and Oge, a Kentucky Sheet. You were talking about the effects of COVID earlier. Would you please try and remove the masks of the young children in the Inioge, in national schools and secondary schools? I have a petition here signed by three ordinary parents and grandparents, 14,300, which I intend to hand to you, pleading to people to take away the masks of these people. Let the children smile, let them see the expressions on the teachers and each other's friends and siblings, see their faces. Nightclubs, spares, every place hasn't gone, and we have them in schools. It's punitive. I would say it's a form of child abuse, actually, and it's time it was dispensed with. You're talking about the effects of COVID there, since you came in about the impact on health. What impact is this going to have? And voluntary boards of management could end up being sued. I salute the boards of management in all the schools. I remember myself, they do great work and the teaching staff, but it's time to get rid of this, the cornean measure, which is causing strife and causing ill health and stress and trauma. To be fair to the deputy, he's had a consistently negative view about restrictions designed to protect public health, and I think the motivation behind the recommendation and the public health advice in relation to masks was an honourable one to try and protect children and protect teachers. And this was in consultation with all of the stakeholders in education. Now, there will be a meeting of an effort. There will be advice in relation to this. Who's okay? Let your teacher respond to this. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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