John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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719. To ask the Minister for Health if National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, has carried out an up to date evidence-based risk assessment and risk-benefit analysis on the imposition of mask mandates in retail and other settings, particularly bearing in mind the recent lifting of restrictions. [6464/22]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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752. To ask the Minister for Health if NPHET has carried out an up to date evidence-based risk assessment and risk-benefit analysis regarding the imposition of mask mandates in retail and other settings particularly bearing in mind the recent lifting of restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6550/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 752 together.

While the majority of public health measures have been lifted, the Government announced that the requirements for mask wearing in all settings where currently regulated for under Statutory Instrument and protective measures in schools and early learning and care facilities should be retained until February 28 based on public health advice. The NPHET will meet again on February 17 and will provide further advice to the Government on this issue.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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720. To ask the Minister for Health if NPHET carried out an up to date evidence-based risk assessment and risk-benefit analysis on the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings. [6465/22]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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721. To ask the Minister for Health if NPHET has requested an up-to-date report from HIQA with regard to the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings. [6466/22]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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722. To ask the Minister for Health if NPHET has not requested an up-to-date report from HIQA with regard to the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings; and the reason it has not done so. [6467/22]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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726. To ask the Minister for Health the basis on which NPHET states that mask use should continue in schools and other settings in view of the removal of the requirement in the UK and many other countries. [6471/22]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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753. To ask the Minister for Health if NPHET carried out an up to date evidence-based risk assessment and risk-benefit analysis on the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6553/22]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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754. To ask the Minister for Health if NPHET requested an up to date report from HIQA on the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6554/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 to 722, inclusive, 726, 753 and 754 together.

The Government, at its meeting on 30 November, agreed that face masks/coverings be recommended for those aged 9 and over on public transport, in retail and other indoor public settings as was required for those aged 13 and over, with exemptions as appropriate. Face masks/coverings are also recommended for children in third class and above in primary school and guidance has issued to schools from the Department of Education on this. This guidance can be found online: www.gov.ie/en/publication/d3c55-department-of-education-guidance-on-the-use-of-face-coverings-in-primary-schools/.

The Government decision is based on a recommendation from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) following its meeting on 25 November. As the Deputy will be aware, this issue has been subject to ongoing review by the NPHET and was considered again at this meeting in light of the sharp rise in the incidence in the 9 to 11 year old age-group in November.

As part of its deliberations, the NPHET considered previous advice from HIQA on the issue, the detailed epidemiological situation in children, international guidance, international practice, the evidence in relation to the use of face coverings in children, and the potential benefits and harms from any recommendations. The NPHET recognised the very significant impacts previous social and economic restrictions have had on families and children to date and also reiterated that a core priority of the NPHET throughout the pandemic has been to protect the continued operation of the education and childcare sector, recognising its importance to the health and development of children. Given the very high incidence in children at that time, the NPHET advised that measures should be taken to interrupt chains of transmission to protect those core priorities including the recommendation in relation to mask wearing, to support families and young children in staying safe over the coming period with a view to reducing risk of disease transmission.

Both the NPHET and Government were clear that this measure was being introduced as a temporary, interim measure and would be reviewed in mid-February 2022.

More recently, the NPHET met on 20 January and provided advice to the government stating that while it was safe for the majority of public health measures to be lifted, the requirements for mask wearing in all settings where currently regulated for under Statutory Instrument and protective measures in schools, early learning and care facilities should be retained until 28 February. This advice was accepted by the Government. The NPHET will meet again on 17 February and will provide further advice to the Government on this issue. This will include advice in relation to mask wearing for children aged 9 to 12.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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723. To ask the Minister for Health the expertise and qualifications of the members of NPHET that qualifies them to make decisions and recommendations regarding the health and well-being of children. [6468/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) for COVID-19 is the mechanism for overseeing the health sector response to significant health-based emergencies. It facilitates the sharing of information between the Department of Health and its agencies and provides a forum for agreement as to strategic approaches to such emergencies. It is currently under the Chairmanship of Chief Medical Officer.

The NPHET's membership is multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral in line with best international practice. Membership comprises representatives from across the health and social care service including the Department of Health (DOH), Health Service Executive (HSE), Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and others with relevant expertise in health and/or other related matters. Membership includes a Consultant Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist, who is also a Clinical Professor of Paediatrics.

Details of the NPHET's Membership is provided in the NPHET’s meeting minutes, available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/691330-national-public-health-emergency-team-covid-19-coronavirus/.

The NPHET also seeks advice from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) as required. HIQA's advice to NPHET is informed by research evidence developed by HIQA's COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team, with expert input from HIQA's COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group.

HIQA's COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team supports NPHET by producing a variety of outputs including rapid health technology assessments, scoping reports, rapid reviews of public health guidance and evidence summaries, supplemented by an evidence-to-advice framework to guide the development of advice, where appropriate. These outputs cover a range of issues, including matters relating to children.

HIQA's COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group is a multidisciplinary group, comprising nominated representatives from the relevant clinical specialities and areas of expertise, methodology experts and public representation. Membership includes a number of Consultant Paediatricians, available to view here:

www.hiqa.ie/hiqa-news-updates/hiqa-establishes-covid-19-expert-advisory-group-support-evidence-based-response.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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724. To ask the Minister for Health the studies and data that have been relied upon by NPHET to form the basis for the statement that Covid-19 still poses a risk to public health and that the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 can be expected to continue (details supplied). [6469/22]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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725. To ask the Minister for Health the published studies and precise recorded data that NPHET relies on to ground the statement that the Omicron variant is a variant of concern. [6470/22]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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727. To ask the Minister for Health if NPHET and his Department are prepared to be transparent with the public and publish all data, studies, assessments, reports and other documentation or global public health advice relied upon to continue to impose restrictions on the Irish populace in this manner. [6472/22]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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755. To ask the Minister for Health the studies and data that have been relied upon by NPHET to form the basis for the statement that Covid-19 still poses a risk to public health, that the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 can be expected to continue, that Omicron is unlikely to be the last variant of concern Ireland will have to face and that the global public health risk remains very high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6555/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 724, 725, 727 and 755 together.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) for COVID-19 provides guidance, support, and expert advice on the development and implementation of a strategy to manage COVID-19 in Ireland. It advises Government on the public health aspects of what is a cross-Government response to COVID-19. In conducting its work, the NPHET has regard to national and international guidance and epidemiological assessment, including from the ECDC, CDC, and WHO.

The NPHET is committed to transparency in how it conducts its business. Directly following each meeting, the recommendations of the NPHET are communicated by letter to the Minister for Health for consideration, and these recommendations are used to assist Government in informing its decisions in responding to the public health emergency.

Actions and recommendations arising from the NPHET meetings are communicated publicly and are announced through press releases. NPHET letters are available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ba4aa0-letters-from-the-cmo-to-the-minister-for-health/.

In addition, the Department of Health and NPHET Members provide regular media briefings to this end. There is also a dedicated webpage on the Department of Health website, where agendas, minutes of previous meetings and papers are published as soon as practicable, once approved by the NPHET: www.gov.ie/en/collection/691330-national-public-health-emergency-team-covid-19-coronavirus/.

The NPHET provided its most recent advice to Government on the 20 January. The letter to the Minister which is available online sets out the NPHET's assessment of the epidemiological situation in Ireland at that time and includes detailed data. It also refers specifically to the WHO's most recent global rapid risk assessment at that time, conducted on 7th January 2022.