Irish Examiner view: Experts take the rap for decisions of politicians

The return to international travel requires people to be patient with the variables of the changing advice from health experts.

The EU Digital Covid Certificate for Travel offers freedom to travel for many of those waiting to take vacations or have family reunions. The restart of international travel will require patience and goodwill and that is something we will all need in abundance. Picture: Allen PR

From the moment that politicians rose to declare that their decision-making would “follow the science” and be “driven by the data” there was always the risk that advisers, scientists, and other experts would be drawn into the cauldron of public animosity when actions prove to be frustrating or financially painful.

This is true not only of Ireland but of liberal democracies around the world and we can point to recent examples from Holland, France, and the UK before we even dwell on the mental condition of people who believe it is acceptable to phone the homes of public servants late at night to badger, insult, and abuse them and their families.