Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On 22 October last, I submitted my first freedom of information, FOI, request to the Department of the Taoiseach on Covid-19 and a zero Covid-19 strategy. I wrote to the Taoiseach's Department, the HSE and the Department of Foreign Affairs seeking all records of correspondence between them and their relevant counterparts in Northern Ireland, Britain or both in respect of: the co-ordination of a response to the Covid-19 pandemic; the adoption of an aligned Covid-19 strategy; and specifically, the adoption of an aligned zero Covid-19 strategy. Three months have passed and it was only yesterday that the Taoiseach announced a whole-of-island approach. However, little evidence of arrangements with either Administration has been properly provided by the Government.

The replies to my FOI requests were delayed but some were finally made available in recent weeks Shockingly, the existence of documents relating to a zero Covid-19 strategy was not evident in any of the responses I received. The possibility of a zero Covid-19 strategy was not discussed at all up until the dates included in my FOI requests. I am being facetious here because I was not shocked at all. The Government has been spinning one thing in the media about such a strategy being too difficult or not manageable. The reality is, however, that the Government has not even discussed the possibility of adopting a strategy of this nature.

The Department of the Taoiseach finally replied to my requests on 14 January, almost two months late. I had to appeal the decision of the Department because it did not comply with requirements set out in the Office of the Information Commissioner’s recommendations. Specifically, I was informed:

- There is no detail provided in the decision makers letter as to the extent of the searches that were conducted. I therefore am unable to properly consider whether the decision maker has conducted adequate searches.

- The decision merely states the subject of the particular exemption being relied upon. The decision maker has not outlined the particular adverse effect that they believe may arise or details of the specific factors considered, having regard to the specific contents of the relevant records.

- No schedule of records has been provided. Therefore, in relation to the documents retrieved the response does not contain: 1. An itemisation of any records or parts thereof being refused

2. A description of their contents

3. A corresponding citation of the relevant exemptions applicable to those records or parts. In consideration of the appeal I referred to the investigation report produced by the Office of the Information Commissioner entitled, “The Freedom of Information Act - Compliance by FOI Bodies” - January 2020.

It is absolutely ridiculous that a public representative has to go through such rigamarole in order to try to get information about our Covid-19 strategy. It is no wonder that the public has lost faith in this Government. There is no transparency, honesty or accountability. There is just spin and, unfortunately, lies. I updated my FOI requests and resubmitted them on 22 January last. We then had the so called public announcements by the four men who are leading our Government's response yesterday evening, even though everything had already been leaked. The Government's press calls should be renamed leak confirmation calls.

Let us see how much the Government has done in respect of an all-Ireland Covid-19 strategy over the past three months. If that information is forthcoming, will it, as I suspect, emerge that there has been more dithering on the part of this ineffectual and apparently rudderless Government for the majority of the period in question. The Taoiseach went against NPHET's advice in December and opened the economy for Christmas. This led to hundreds of unnecessary deaths. Our hospitals are operating above capacity and our hard-working front-line health service staff are at the end of their tethers. Will the Taoiseach provide a full and detailed report to the Dáil on the negotiations and discussions with both jurisdictions in pursuit of an all-Ireland Covid-19 strategy?

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