Concerns over Leinster House event featuring anti-vaccination campaigners

TD Sharon Keogan has organised the event in Leinster House which features a panel of prominent far-right individuals and anti-vaccination campaigners. Picture: Leah Farrell

TDs have voiced serious concerns about an event being organised in Leinster House which features a panel of prominent far-right individuals and anti-vaccination campaigners.

Senator Sharon Keogan has been criticised for arranging a briefing for politicians and political staff entitled "WHO pandemic treaty, know the facts", which is due to take place next Tuesday.

Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan said those selected to appear on the panel are "people who have a fairly proven history of delivering the worst type of disinformation and hugely harmful doublespeak".

She said: "Every member of the Oireachatas is responsible for their own impact on the Oireachtas and the legacy that they leave and this would imply that Senator Keoghan's legacy will be misinformation, will be introducing highly questionable individuals and their highly questionable views. They're often objectionable, hurtful, and damaging views."

Six panelists are listed on the invite which was issued to members of the Dáil and Seanad.

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The speakers include Christine Anderson, an MEP from Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party. 

Mass protests were triggered recently after it revealed that a AfD members held a secret meeting with neo-Nazis to discuss a plan to deport foreign or foreign-born individuals in the event of the party gaining power.

Meryl Nass, a Maine doctor who had her licence suspended for violating medical privacy and prescribing rules, is also a listed speaker. 

Ms Nass is a prominent anti-vax campaigner and has advocated medicines which been found to not be an effective treatment for covid, like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

Also on the panel is Dr Tess Lawrie, who founded the World Council for Health group which has accused of being used to spread covid misinformation. 

Dr Lawrie called for a pause to the covid-19 vaccination programme and has made unsubstantiated claims implying the vaccine had led to a large number of deaths based on a common misreading of safety data.

Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly said: "I am concerned at the use of Dáil facilities to promote far-right ideology.

I'm not certain that this is the best use of our resources. 

"I don't believe that a doctor who has apparently been struck off is the best person to speak about medical matters. 

"I think that those people who are organising the event should be honest and upfront about who will be speaking on it, and about the background of the speakers."

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said it is "outrageous" that a member of the Seanad is inviting a member of the AfD into Leinster House.