Written answers
Wednesday, 6 November 2024
Department of An Taoiseach
Departmental Inquiries
Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
6. To ask the Taoiseach the details of the distinctions between a promised Covid-19 inquiry and an ‘evaluation’, following recent statements by the Tánaiste. [45455/24]
Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
7. To ask the Taoiseach the actual commencement date for the promised Covid inquiry. [45456/24]
Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
8. To ask the Taoiseach the measures being put in place to ensure that the Covid-19 inquiry is conducted completed impartially and transparently and is carried out by individuals and or entities with no vested interest. [45457/24]
Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
9. To ask the Taoiseach the set of powers and extent of same under which the Covid-19 inquiry will operate, in tabular form. [45458/24]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together.
The COVID-19 Evaluation Panel will commence its work in January with preparations continuing in the interim period. The Panel should submit a final report to the Taoiseach in approximately 12-18 months. The Panel may submit interim reports on specific modules on any matters where evaluation points to immediate policy, system or practice improvements or changes.
A phased programme of work will be undertaken following a broad methodological approach which should avoid duplication of effort and harness existing sources to the greatest degree possible. The Panel will carry out a documentary analysis of existing plans, reports and other work already undertaken across Government and internationally to review specific aspects of Ireland’s response.
While the precise nature of the public aspects of the evaluation and engagement with the public will be a matter for the panel, Government has agreed that, as part of the information gathering:
- Submissions will also be sought from specific individuals, cohorts or their representatives
- There will be public consultation to hear accounts of the “lived experience” of anyone who wants to participate (including capturing the experiences of children and young people)
- There will be public events to allow for discussions with key-decision-makers on emerging topics
- There will also be the opportunity for private sessions for deeper information gathering and the probing of submitted materials
It is Government’s considered view that establishing the evaluation with a fact finding and lessons learned approach has a far greater chance of being completed with wide co-operation of relevant players in a non-adversarial atmosphere and likely to be concluded more quickly and achieve that objective. A statutory inquiry with powers of compellability would inevitably change the dynamic of the process and participation in it. An evaluation framed in this way provides great flexibility to the Chair in how the Panel will operate and will also avoid the demand for or need for legal representation.
It will be open to the Chair and the Panel, at any stage, to identify specific matters which require further investigation through separate processes.
The Chair and Panel can engage any additional expertise it believes it needs to complete its work. The Chair and the Panel will also have access to its own independent legal team as may be required.
In agreeing its Terms of Reference, the Government also agreed that membership of the Panel should be separate from the organisations that are involved in the events that have led to the evaluation, or its commission and the evaluation should be able to reach its conclusions without the need for deference to any other party as to how to reach that conclusion.
It also agreed that there would need to be a multi-disciplinary aspect to the Panel to support the broader perspectives and an assessment “in the round” of the broad scope of interlinked policy decisions and impacts. Members will not include anyone directly involved in decision-making processes related to the pandemic.
Secretariat (administrative support) for the Evaluation Panel will be provided, in the normal way (such as for Tribunals, Commissions or Citizens’ Assemblies) by a dedicated team of civil servants seconded to this work. They will work for and report to the Chair for the duration of their assignment.
No comments