URGENT: Final opportunity to lobby TD's to vote against the extension of draconian laws.

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Monday May 24, 2021 21:47 by 1 of Indy

This evening (Mon 24th May) is the last chance to lobby your TDs to stop them further extending the legislation on the draconian laws severely restricting our freedoms. Please watch the video from Barrister Tracey O'Mahoney and use the template letter below to contact your TD

Download template here and the name and email address for every TD in each constituency or attached to this article
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/../1Zxz5JxAiXpHsixvDAOIi3nvlxVInwR1n

https://youtu.be/jNjC1QYRZqE

Template Letter copied below also:

To: [INSERT NAME AND ADDRESS]
Date: [INSERT DATE]

[INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS]

Re: Proposed Extension of Part 3 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and Other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act) 2020 (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”)

Dear XXXXXXXX,

As you will be aware, the Health and Criminal Justice (COVID-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021 is currently going through both Houses of the Oireachtas, with Section 1 of this legislation seeking to extend the duration of Part 3 of the Act.

I am aware that you have not provided any commitment as to how you will vote in connection with the extension of Part 3 of the Act and in this regard, I write to you one final time to implore you to vote against the continuation in force of Part 3 of the Act, for reasons which include the following:

• • It has caused an unacceptable level of collateral damage and suffering including in relation to physical and mental health, loneliness and isolation, increased domestic violence, and the livelihoods of many people;
• • Public opinion is moving rapidly against the continuing lockdown which Part 3 enables, with the recent Kantar/Sunday Independent poll finding “huge frustration with the level of Covid restrictions”: 50% believe the lifting of restrictions is too slow;
• • Human rights and civil liberties must be respected, even when this is difficult, noting that a liberal democratic society does not abandon its commitment to human rights and civil liberties as soon as that commitment becomes inconvenient. Instead, it maintains strong respect for those rights always;
• • Lockdowns are not a normal pandemic response and, in fact, represent a radical departure from normal practice in responding to pandemics;
• • The excessive resort to lockdown contravenes WHO Advice;
• • Our Covid-19 mortality rate is similar to countries with much less stringent/prolonged lockdowns;
• • Part 3 is not fit for purpose and is far too unbalanced, showing almost no regard for anything but Covid-19;
• • Government persistently refuse to exercise sparingly even the most extreme of these powers;
• • The case for continuing Part 3 could be justified only by evidence showing as a matter of certainty that those measures are necessary, effective and do more good than harm. Yet that is simply not the reality. Multiple published analyses indicate that lockdowns have little, if any, effect on Covid-19 mortality.;
• • The original rationale for the restrictions (to “flatten the curve”) has long since passed.

I am aware that many TD’s are citing “public health advice” as justification for relinquishing their responsibilities to those who elected them into their positions of power. To be clear, I did not vote for NPHET or Tony Holohan – I voted for you and I trusted you to represent my views and protect my freedoms. That said, I am firmly of the view that the “public health advice” does not support the continuation in force of Part 3 of the Act.

The erosion of my human rights and civil liberties over the past 14 months is something I will never forget or forgive, so be under no doubt that I will hold you personally responsible for the manner in which you vote with regard to the extension of the duration of Part 3 of the Act and in this regard, I expect you to vote against the Health and Criminal Justice (COVID-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021.

Yours sincerely,

td_spreadsheet_with_emails_23.05.xlsx 0.02 Mb all_td_s_letter_extension_to_part_3_may_2021.docx 0.02 Mb

Caption: URGENT: Part 3 Extension (Final Opportunity to Lobby TD