The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has today published the report of the Emerging Health Threats Function Expert Steering Group (ESG). It contains a number of recommendations to strengthen Ireland’s preparedness for public health crises, ranging from pandemics to the effects of the climate emergency.
The recommendations include:
- the establishment of a new Health Security Emergency Response Service to enable rapid delivery of mass testing, contact tracing and vaccination.
- The utilisation of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) structure to facilitate a coordinated whole-of-Government response to health emergencies.
- The establishment of an Irish Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (ISAGE) to Support Government decision-making.
- The establishment of an Interdepartmental Working Group to enhance cross-Government collaboration in preparing for future health emergencies.
The work of the ESG arose from the report of the Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group (PHREAG) which assessed Ireland’s public health response to COVID-19.
The PHREAG report found that Ireland responded very well to the pandemic, with excess mortality among the lowest in Europe. Surges in hospitalisation were of a lower and shorter duration than many other European countries while vaccination rates were among the highest.
Having examined the PHREAG findings, the ESG has now delivered recommendations that are designed to address existing gaps in Ireland’s public health protection system in order to improve our preparedness for health emergencies.
Minister Donnelly said:
“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an ambitious programme of public health reform underpinned by record levels of Government investment. The report of the ESG is a critical tool to help us further build on this progress, by developing additional enhancements to our health protection mechanisms.
“We are harnessing the lessons learned from the pandemic in order to ensure that we are equipped to respond effectively to future public health emergencies.
“I would like to thank the membership of the Expert Steering Group including the Chair Professor Mary Horgan, for giving so generously of their time, knowledge, and expertise.”