Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Health Stephen Donnelly has called on the Department of Health and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to publish the recommendations and submissions that have guided its actions and decisions during the pandemic.
Deputy Donnelly explained, “This week in the UK, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has been publishing the papers that have informed policy making in that jurisdiction. I think it is time that we followed suit.
“Trust and transparency are very important in the current circumstances and will be ever more critical in maintaining public ‘buy-in’ in what is likely to be a long drawn out period of restrictions.
“I have no doubt that there have already been many requests for such documentation under Freedom of Information legislation. However, with many civil service staff working from home such requests will take time to process.
“There may also be a temptation to withhold such documentation as it relates to an ongoing process. However, it seems at present that COVID-19 will be ongoing for quite some time so that is not a tenable position.
“Nor should the prospect of a likely public inquiry or investigation be used to stall and then excuse the withholding of such information.
“We are asking the population at large to make huge sacrifices in the interest of public health and the public have rightly stepped up to do so. The least we can do is put on the public record all the guidance that has led to such restrictions and indeed that the information that will guide the relaxation of any such restrictions,” concluded Deputy Donnelly.