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Move to Level 4 discussed ahead of NPHET meeting - Donnelly

Updated / Friday, 9 Oct 2020 06:42
Minister Stephen Donnelly said he was not expecting a Level 5 recommendation from NPHET
Minister Stephen Donnelly said he was not expecting a Level 5 recommendation from NPHET

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan and the Minister for Health spoke about the possibility of moving to Level 4 Covid-19 restrictions in advance of last Sunday's NPHET meeting, Stephen Donnelly has told the Dáil.

Minister Donnelly made a statement in the Dáil tonight on the sequence of events around the recommendation by the National Public Health Emergency Team to move the country to Level 5 restrictions.

The minster said that he was informed by Dr Holohan of the possibility of a NPHET recommendation of a move to Level 4 of the Government's Living with Covid plan.

He said he was not expecting a recommendation to move to Level 5.

Mr Donnelly said that given there had been advice to stay on Level 2 a few days previously, he was taken aback at Sunday's recommendation.

He said he never suggested NPHET went on a solo run and that Dr Holohan has a right to convene a meeting of NPHET whenever he wants.

Minister Donnelly added that he did not seek to influence the outcome of the NPHET meeting and said the first time Level 5 was mentioned was following the NPHET meeting on Sunday evening.

Mr Donnelly said he spoke to the Taoiseach before and after that meeting.

The minister said he had no knowledge of how the NPHET recommendation to move to Level 5 had been 'leaked' to the media.

Sinn Féin's David Cullinane said the CMO had done everything possible to convey the seriousness of the situation to Government at the weekend.

Yet, he said, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has claimed that he had no inkling that NPHET might recommend a move to Level 5.

Mr Cullinane asked the minister if he informed Dr Holohan that a move to Level 4 would not be acceptable to the Government.

Yesterday, Dr Holohan confirmed that he communicated with Mr Donnelly before and after a NPHET meeting on Sunday and shared his concerns with the minister.

Earlier in the Dáil, Mr Varadkar said no one in Government was aware that NPHET was considering a move to the highest level of restrictions until Sunday, which came as a shock.

Labour's Duncan Smith suggested that the events of last weekend will have implications for public confidence in both the Government and NPHET.

Responding to a question from Róisín Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats, Minister Donnelly said the leak of the NPHET letter last Sunday had nothing to do with him or any of his staff.

Minister Donnelly told the Dáil that the R number for infections throughout the country is now 1.2.

He said while the cases are rising, the R number has come down.

RISE TD Paul Murphy said a move to Level 5 looks like it may be needed to stem the spread of Covid-19.

He said the Government had made a "grave mistake" by not taking NPHET's advice last weekend.

The Minister for Health told the Dáil that he did not talk to any journalists on Sunday about moving to Level 5.

He was responding to a question from Thomas Pringle, Independent TD, about who leaked plans to move the country to Level 5.

Mr Donnelly again outlined his version of events stating that he did contact Dr Holohan on Sunday and they had a "very productive conversation".

He said the prospect of Level 4 was raised during the conversation.

Mr Donnelly said he spoke again with the CMO after the NPHET meeting concluded around 7pm on Sunday.

"That was the first time I heard about Level 5," Mr Donnelly said.

"Honestly, who knows? People leak," Mr Donnelly told Mr Pringle.

"All I can tell you is I wasn't leaking anything. I was focused on NPHET, the situation and what could happen," Mr Donnelly said.

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Micheál Lehane RTÉ Political Correspondent

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Mícheál Lehane

Political Correspondent