The Taoiseach has defended a decision to “evaluate” how it handled the coronavirus pandemic, rather than set up a statutory inquiry.
Simon Harris said that a Covid evaluation will “get to the bottom” of Ireland’s response to the pandemic, adding that it will provide answers.
He said that Ireland got a lot of “things right” throughout the pandemic, but said there was also a lot of pain and hurt.
Professor Anne Scott has been appointed to lead the comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed Covid-19, with the aim of learning lessons from the pandemic experience.
The Government made the announcement on Wednesday evening following a Cabinet meeting, and said it has agreed the terms of reference for an evaluation of the response to the pandemic.
It is set to include a consideration of the health service response covering hospitals, the community and nursing homes, along with the wider economic and social response, including the impact on education and businesses.
Professor Scott is to lead a multi-disciplinary panel with relevant expertise to produce focused recommendations.
Speaking on Thursday, Mr Harris said he was pleased to go ahead with the Covid evaluation.
Aontu leader Peadar Toibin has called for an inquiry into Ireland’s Covid response (Brian Lawless/PA)
“Ireland got lots of things right during that period of time, but also there was a lot of pain, a lot of hurt, and indeed a lot of loss, including loss of lives during the Covid pandemic,” he added.
“It’s really important that we look back at what went well and we look at what didn’t.
“It’s also important that we look forward in terms of the learnings of that and how that can be applied to future pandemic preparedness. I really want to thank Professor Ann Scott for agreeing to chair the panel.
“I would make this point. We’ve had in the past structures that haven’t been statutory, and they’ve yielded really good progress.
“The one I think of is the (Gabriel) Scally report. A very different situation, but you will remember at a time there was serious concern around cervical cancer screening, and we actually set up a process with Professor Gabriel Scally that did provide answers, that did provide a roadmap, and did it in a very time-efficient way.
“We’ve now appointed an independent chair. It is for that independent chair to decide how best she and her panel wish to conduct that and, of course, any extra assistance or advice or powers that she believes she needs, of course, Government will absolutely keep an open mind of that.
“What I would say on the Covid evaluation is this, I think there have been many models in the past, statutory and non-statutory, that have gotten to the bottom of things, that have provided answers, that have provided a useful way forward.”
The move to set up an evaluation has been criticised by Aontu leader Peadar Toibin, who said a “wishy-washy” Covid evaluation will not be acceptable.
He has called for a full public inquiry with the ability to compel papers and witnesses.
Mr Harris went on to say that Prof Scott will be independent in her work, and that the panel will hear from people who wish to be heard.
“I think it’s also really important that the voices and experiences of people impacted by Covid, and some awfully impacted by Covid, are recorded, are heard. I really look forward to a process being put in place to make that happen,” he added.
“We wanted to make sure we made progress in terms of moving this forward ahead of a general election, that was something I felt very strongly about.”