With this ongoing health crisis it is no time for irresponsible comments from Sinn Fein

The party, which the establishment in the Republic of Ireland does not want anywhere near government in Dublin but which we have to endure being in power permanently in Northern Ireland, showed itself to be wholly unsuited to ministerial responsibility.

On Friday, Michelle O’Neill tore up the position agreed of the power-sharing executive on Thursday, not to close schools now. It was a UK-wide position, accepted for example by the Scottish nationalists, based on expert advice.

Then John O’Dowd, thought of as a moderate member of Sinn Fein, issued a wholly irresponsible tweet, with a picture of Boris Johnson, saying that “this shire of bastards are using everyone of us in some form of twisted medical experiment”.

He continued: “Do you honestly believe the rest of Europe is wrong & this balloon and his ilk are right. If you are not angry it’s time to get angry, we are on the brink of disaster!”

It was reprehensible because the medical response had been agreed with the chief medical officers across the UK, and was clearly not some whim of the prime minister.

There is clearly a shortage of ventilators in many countries including the US, which are vital in treating the most affected patients. The UK government is rightly trying to get industry to help rectify the shortage by producing ventilators. In the meantime, it is entirely appropriate to try to smooth the peak infection curve. It is also entirely logical to be concerned about imposing isolation that could last months too early, so that people break it in frustration at a more infectious time.

It makes clear sense for this island to co-operate closely on its response to this frightening outbreak, yet Dublin gave no warning of its decision to close schools. Schools in NI will have to shut soon, with major consequences. If they can safely stay open until Easter that will reduce the duration of the closures and accompanying complications such as NHS staff who will have to cater for children who should be at school.