'Wishy washy' COVID 'evaluation' will not be able to compel witnesses

The COVID “evaluation” will have no powers of compellability that will force those involved in the pandemic to give evidence.

The process was branded “wishy-washy” on Wednesday evening amid calls for a “full public inquiry”. A Government spokesman confirmed that it is “very possible” there will be public sessions held and that it will be up to the chairwoman of the evaluation, Professor Anne Scott, and the appointed panel to decide what form the “evaluation” will take.

Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who were Health Minister and Taoiseach respectively at different stages of the pandemic, welcomed the inquiry and said that “it's important that we look at what could have happened better and what could be done better in the future”.

READ MORE: Taoiseach urges 'cop on' this Halloween as emergency services brace for chaos

READ MORE: Norma Foley says missing Kyran Durnin was 'lost in system'

The Cabinet decided on Wednesday to carry out a “comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed the COVID-19 pandemic”. Professor Scott, retired Professor Emerita at NUI Galway and former Chairperson of the CervicalCheck Steering Committee, will be in charge of the process.

A Government spokesman said: “The evaluation would be on a whole of Government response to the pandemic and how Ireland might do better or be in a stronger position in terms of preparedness if another pandemic or similar type event were to occur.

“The evaluation will include consideration of the health service response, covering hospitals, the community and nursing homes, along with the wider economic and social response and the impact of the pandemic on education and business.”

The process is being called an “evaluation” and will not be a statutory process such as a tribunal of inquiry or an inquest.

The process will not have powers of compellability, and nobody will be forced to give evidence; instead, they will be asked to participate voluntarily. This will include Government ministers and leading members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), including former Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan, former Deputy CMO Ronan Glynn, Professor Philip Nolan and former HSE Chief Paul Reid.

A Government spokesperson stated that several Government departments have already started preparatory work and “millions” of documents will be handed over. He would not confirm whether or not this would contain text messages, adding that “they don’t conduct Government business” on WhatsApp.

Government spokespeople repeatedly stressed on Wednesday that the process was not called a “COVID inquiry” and is an “evaluation”. They could not, however, confirm what exactly an evaluation will entail.

Professor Scott will appoint a panel and there is no set timeframe for when the process will be complete. However, it can produce individual reports on “modules” it will examine, such as schools, nursing homes and the economy. Public sessions and submissions are “very possible” but it will be up to the chairperson to decide what form the “evaluation” will take. It is also possible they will be broadcast.

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín branded the process “wishy washy” on Wednesday, stating that a “full public inquiry with the ability to compel papers and witnesses is necessary”.

He said: "“It would be impossible for any government to get everything right in the middle of a pandemic. But we need to work out what decisions were beneficial and which ones caused societal damage. There must be accountability for waste.

"The self-interest of a government just before a general election should not determine the terms of reference [for] a wishy washy COVID Evaluation."

Sign up to the Irish Mirror's daily newsletter here and get breaking news and top stories direct to your inbox.