COVID INQUIRY MUST NOT BE A BLAME GAME
Aim to look at lessons learned from pandemic
THE Government is planning to establish a non-statutory inquiry into the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin both said that while Ireland’s performance must be probed, it cannot be a “blame game”.
The Taoiseach, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe briefed members of the Opposition on the upcoming inquiry yesterday.
Sources at the meeting told the Irish Mirror that the main objective is to find a “factual account” of what happened during the pandemic and to “look at lessons learned”.
It is proposed that the inquiry will be non-statutory and evidence giving in public and in private will be facilitated.
There is also a desire not to go down the same route as the Covid inquiry taking place in the UK.
The Taoiseach told reporters in November that he did not see text messages having to be provided to the inquiry. It is understood that this was not brought up at the briefings.
It is hoped that a former judge will chair the investigation.
There will be a “stand-alone module” on the situation in nursing homes. The Opposition parties will have three weeks to come back to the Government with suggestions before it goes to Cabinet.
It is envisaged that it will take between 15 and 18 months but there is an acceptance this may have to be extended.
Elsewhere, Sinn Fein’s health spokesperson David Cullinane said that he appealed to the Government to engage with the families of victims, adding: “There has to be
accountability and we have to establish failings where failings happen.
“We want to be assured that if the Government does go with a nonstatutory model there is that level of accountability.”
Deputy Cullinane also said that he believes there needs to be an investigation into the mental health implications of the pandemic and the impact of school closures on children.
The Taoiseach confirmed to the Irish Mirror that the Government was considering a non-statutory pandemic inquiry. He said: “We don’t want to take five, six, seven years and cost €10million.
“I don’t think that would be in anyone’s interest.
“We performed very well as a country in how we managed the pandemic but I’m sure that we could have done things differently, could have done things better.
“[We] need to learn for the next major public health emergency.”
Tanaiste Mr Martin, meanwhile, said that he has watched the “adversarial, legal, inquiry” that is happening in the UK and does not believe it would be beneficial.