The Department of Health provided the information outlined in the correspondence of the 29th April 2020.
I understand the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommendation to expand testing capacity to 100,000 tests per week is recorded in the minutes of 17th April 2020.
The NPHET provides direction, guidance, support and expert public health advice on responding to COVID-19 in Ireland. Its advice is provided to the Minister for Health. The letter is also copied to a senior official in my Department who chairs the senior officials group which supports the Cabinet Committee on the Government response to COVID-19. Copies of the letters are published and available on gov.ie.
There is regular ongoing liaison between officials in my Department and the Department of Health.
Briefings on NPHET considerations and on disease progression are provided to me at meetings with the Minister for Health and his officials, including the Chief Medical Officer, and/or with my officials.
The Cabinet Committee on COVID-19 has been briefed by the CMO and other relevant senior officials as required.
At each Government meeting an overview of the collective management of the response to COVID-19 is prepared including data on the progression of the disease and, where relevant, the outputs of NPHET.
Where Government is implementing NPHET advice, that is the subject of a formal Government decision.
