Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Through the Chair, I ask the Deputy Leader to consider setting aside some time in the House to discuss Covid, the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, the Government's response and whether there are already lessons to be learned. I understand that an inquiry into all of these matters is in progress. Normally, I would say that we should await the outcome of the inquiry but, having seen what I saw yesterday on the screen, in the responses by the Secretary General, Mr. Robert Watt, to questions put to him, I have no confidence at all in any re-examination of the Department's role in the matter in which it has any part whatsoever. I do not want to be unfair to the man but I detected a tone of breathtaking impunity and arrogance. He was politely questioned by members of the committee and, to put it mildly, he was dismissive and evasive. He fell well below the standards we expect of our public service in respect of accountability to these Houses for very important matters. I hear his attendance was procured by a compellability decision. It is scandalous in itself that somebody with a very substantial salary would resist being called before a committee of these Houses to account for his stewardship of his own Department. It is bad enough that an order was required for him to be brought before that committee. On a second, related topic, I am not of the view that everything NPHET did was necessary or right. I was interested to see some people who were acquainted with what happened in NPHET saying there was an atmosphere there of, I will not use the term "intimidation", but they felt there was one voice and a strong voice coming from the centre and that dissent was not tolerated. I think of a particular doctor in Tallaght who had to resign his office in the HSE because he queried the direction of Government policy. It is about time that these Houses asserted their authority and that we have some discussion in this Chamber, before it is too late and a general election takes place, as to whether what happened in Ireland was appropriate or excessive. I am not taking away from the sacrifices HSE staff made in fighting Covid; I salute them. However, the economy suffered a massive hit and there was not adequate protection of the economic interests, the social interests and the human psychological interests of citizens at that time. I put on record I do not accept the proposition the Department of Health, especially after yesterday, should have anything to do with an inquiry into what was done.