Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
670. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason the expert advisory group to NPHET was dissolved following its last meeting on 2 September 2020; the rationale for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39800/20]
View answerThis decision was taken in the context of a review carried out by the NPHET, in which a number of Subgroups, having met their Terms of Reference, were stood down with their work subsequently realigned into the appropriate policy and operational functions of the Department of Health or other relevant organisations, or bodies. It was considered timely to regularise the emergency structures established at the start of the pandemic into the work of the relevant agencies.
As the HIQA has a statutory remit to provide evidence based advice to the Minister for Health, the Department of Health and the HSE, it was decided that the EAG would, in future, operate under the aegis of the HIQA in the preparation, review, and publication of Evidence Summaries and Scoping Reviews to inform NPHET policy.
Accordingly, on the 29th September 2020, the HIQA announced details of its new structures to provide evidence-based advice and support to the NPHET, including the establishment of the COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group. Further information is published at: https://www.hiqa.ie/hiqa-news-updates/hiqa-establishes-covid-19-expert-advisory-group-support-evidence-based-response
The Terms of Reference and membership of the new COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group are also published at the above link. The HIQA calls on the expertise of its COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group membership, as required, in carrying out its work.
The advice from the HIQA to the NPHET, along with the underpinning evidence for same, is published at: www.hiqa.ie.
