Calls for funeral directors to be prioritised for vaccination

PAUL MURPHY

Funeral directors should be treated as frontline workers because of the nature of their work in close proximity to grieving families Meath County Council heard this week.

Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr David Gilroy tabled an emergency motion at Monday’s meeting of the council asking the council to call on Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to give them frontline status and to prioritise them for vaccination.

He said that the directors performed a vitally important function that they should be given priority as the vaccinations continue to be rolled out. The emergency motion was seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Sharon Tolan who said that the directors’ work sometimes brought them into close contact with grieving families, some of whom may not be wearing masks.

She said she would also like to see Gardai being included in prioritisation. It was the case that they were being spat on and, as people saw, were violently attacked in the streets of Dublin last weekend.

Fianna Fail Cllr Paul McCabe said he would proceed with caution as to whether priority status because he felt there were other groups including clergy and people caring for relatives at home who might feel they were entitled to this status.

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons, who is a funeral director, said that one of the biggest problems face dby funeral directors when the Covid pandemic broke out was acquiring personal protection equipment.

Last month, the Irish Association of Funeral Directors said that directors needed the Covid vaccination alongside nurses, doctors and other frontline workers. The association called on the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to prioritise the directors in the queue of those waiting for vaccines.

Donal Forde, the president of the directors’ associayion, said they would consider themselves as high risk because they were dealing constantly with human remains.

Fine Gael Cllr Gerry O’Connor said he believed funeral directors were in the front line. He said he would support the motion but would also favour other groups, including the Gardai, should be prioritised for vaccination.

Cllr Yemi Adenuga said she, too, would be supporting the Cathaoirleach’s call. She said the pandemic was unprecedented and it was a case of dealing with matters as they evolved.

Cllr Tom Behan said he would agree with other councillors who felt that one group should not be prioritised over another. He said he agreed with the sentiments expressed in the motion.

Cllr Maria Murphy said she was definitely supporting the motion.

When it appeared that an amendment to the motion might be tabled to include Gardai in prioritisation, Cllr Gilroy said he did not wish to create a vote on the issue and withdrew his motion.