Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
438. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if an analysis has been undertaken on a comparison between the response of Ireland to the Covid-19 pandemic and other countries in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11938/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is guided in responses to emerging international public health incidents by the advice, guidance and protocols of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) .The expert guidance of the ECDC in particular is based upon consideration of the circumstances arising in the European Union and globally. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) takes account of these and other international sources as part of its deliberations.
I am in regular contact with my Ministerial counterparts at EPSCO (the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs) Council meetings where different approaches to the pandemic are discussed. In conjunction with this, the Croatian Presidency of the EU has also activated the Integrated Political Crisis Response to facilitate information sharing among Member States.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, has been meeting on a regular basis in relation to the Covid-19 outbreak. An Expert Advisory Group (EAG) provides scientific advice and assistance to the NPHET in carrying out its work. The NPHET, the EAG and officials of my Department continue to monitor the situation relating to COVID-19 including the circumstances arising in other countries. Furthermore, the Chief Medical Officer maintains regular contact with colleagues in Britain and Northern Ireland.
While analysis comparing the situation in Ireland with other countries is useful, considerable caution must be exercised in doing so. Circumstances such as, for example, the socio-economic status of the population, population density, age profile, rates of underlying conditions, date of first reported cases, varying data collection methodologies and reporting arrangements, testing strategies etc are often not directly comparable or are very challenging to analyse in a manner that can be directly comparable.
Notwithstanding some limitations in international comparisons, particularly at this point in time, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken to analyse and learn from international experiences. The NPHET Covid-19 Subgroup on Guidance and Evidence Synthesis was established to facilitate information exchange on the public health and clinical guidance relating to the disease. The subgroup is monitoring international efforts on an ongoing basis. Further information is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/07d750-nphet-covid-19-subgroup-guidance-and-evidence-synthesis/.
The NPHET also recently published a Comparison of Mortality Rates between Ireland and other countries in EU and Internationally. The report, which is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/84bc5-covid-19-comparison-of-mortality-rates-between-ireland-and-other-countries-in-eu-and-internationally/ reviews COVID-19 mortality in Ireland in comparison with a number of comparable health systems and reviews possible factors which have contributed to Irish mortality experience to date.
The report also describes a number of the factors affecting mortality which make direct comparisons between countries difficult. For example, the Deputy might wish to note that, in Ireland, data are collected on COVID-19 related mortality for both lab confirmed and probable cases, in line with recommendations from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in both hospitals and the community. We committed from the outset to collect the most extensive data possible in order that the information could inform and guide the public health actions necessary to respond to the very serious threat posed by COVID-19. The Deputy might note that the collection of mortality data in Ireland exceeds that of many other countries in the world.
The NPHET and my Department will continue to consider all available evidence and the experience and learning from other countries as we try to keep the level of transmission of the virus as low as possible while also balancing the continuing restrictions proportionately with the social and economic benefits arising from the easing of restrictions in the coming period.
