Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
2534. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider holding a stakeholder engagement meeting in which public health officials will take questions and brief older persons and their representative groups on the current Covid-19 situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38004/21]
View answerIn line with best practice international advice and guidance provided by the WHO and the ECDC, communication has been a cornerstone of the Department of Health and wider Government’s response to COVID-19. Consistent, comprehensive communication around personal preventive behaviours and public health guidance is crucial to keep people, particularly vulnerable people, safe at this time - especially at periods in which the virus is circulating at high levels within the community.
To that end, the Department of Health has held press briefings from the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to ensure that experts in public health are to the fore when informing the public about the disease’s pattern and progression within Ireland. Additionally, papers and other relevant material in relation to the COVID-19 response are regularly published on the Department's website.
A regular COVID-19 communications email with updates on communications activities and HSE partner pack resources is issued by the Department to a mailing list of stakeholder organisations, including older people’s representative groups.
In addition, the HSE hold weekly press briefings in order to update members of the public on key issues relating to COVID-19. The Department of Health is also responsive to all media queries sent into the Press Office and releases statements providing accurate, timely public health information in response to the media on a daily basis.
Furthermore, there are a range of mechanisms at both local and national level for older persons representative groups, older persons services and service users to feed into and inform the public health response to COVID-19 in this sector. A series of oversight arrangements in relation to COVID-19 in older persons services are in place which involve close working relationships between HSE Older Persons Services at national and local level, HIQA, older persons umbrella bodies, and individual providers. The Department of Health meets regularly with HSE and HIQA to discuss preparedness in older persons services. I and my officials continue to engage regularly with stakeholders in the respect of the pandemic response.
