Sir, – The label “far right” is being used to label anyone who dissents even a little bit to Covid restrictions. Sometimes this label is being used for people who oppose restrictions that were at one time considered disproportionate by public health experts.
For example, Nphet, Hiqa and the WHO previously opposed masks for primary children on the grounds of negative impact on the learning experience of children. Now apparently if you oppose masks for children in primary school you are a fellow traveller of the far right. Restrictions in response to Covid are how our political system organises society based on public health advice. They are political decisions. It is vital that in a democracy we allow competing ideas about restrictions and that people are not afraid to dissent for fear of being smeared as far right.
– Yours, etc.
Cllr JOANNA TUFFY,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.