By international standards, Ireland has been slow to set up its inquiry into the State’s handling of Covid-19. But the new year has brought a flurry of signalling from Government that decisions are imminent on the shape, scope and composition of that inquiry.
The sluggish start may prove a blessing. It offers the opportunity for public bodies, professional researchers and civil society to assemble a more complete picture of the outcomes of policies implemented during the pandemic and its aftermath. That should allow for a better-informed reflection on how Ireland’s performance compares with that of other countries. And it should permit the inquiry to avoid certain pitfalls, not least the partisan point-scoring and personalised attacks which have marred the United Kingdom’s version.
Senior officials have considered similar processes elsewhere and it appears likely the model they propose will bear some resemblance to the Swedish structure of a panel of experts with an independent chair. The terms of reference will be broad; that will inevitably mean a lengthy inquiry of at least 12 to 18 months. Even under the most optimistic timeframe, that means it is likely to run into 2026.
The State has an unhappy history of investigations and tribunals of inquiry dragging on far longer than intended, at extraordinary expense. It is sensible for the Government to seek to avoid the excessive legalism and frequent recourse to the courts which caused such problems in the past. That is clearly on its agenda, with suggestions that those who give evidence will not have legal protection for allegations they make against individuals, and the chair will not necessarily be drawn from the judiciary.
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The inquiry will examine the public health response as well as the economic, social and educational aspects of a period during which the State took unprecedented steps to restrict citizens’ liberties, reshape economic activity and make difficult decisions – often with incomplete information. Many had life or death consequences for thousands of people. Some of these decisions, like the management of nursing homes in the pandemic’s early months, or the “meaningful Christmas” policy of December 2020 have already been heavily criticised.
The more long-term effects of extended school closures or of Ireland’s unusually long lockdowns are the subject of continued debate. It is vital therefore to clarify that the inquiry’s purpose will not be to assign blame or even to adjudicate definitively on genuine policy differences. It should be to assess all the evidence now available and deliver a report that empowers future governments to make the best decisions possible when the next national crisis occurs.