Module 2C – Core political and administrative decision-making in Northern Ireland
Module 2 of the UK Covid-19 public inquiry formally opened on 31st August 2022. Module 2 is split into separate parts to examine the UK’s overall response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Module 2C will examine the decision-making by the government in Northern Ireland in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic between January 2020 and until Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Northern Ireland in March 2022. It will examine the decision-making of key groups and individuals within the government in Northern Ireland including the First Minister, deputy First Minister and other Ministers during the pandemic.
Hearings
Preliminary Hearings
November 2nd 22’ – Ronan Lavery, Counsel for the Northern Ireland Bereaved Families for Justice, opened addressing the dysfunction of Northern Ireland’s government and the lack of awareness the central government had of this. Mr Lavery addressed that Northern Ireland has no NHS. Mr Lavery closed by highlighting the lack of cross-border communication between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
March 29th 23’ – Brenda Campbell, Counsel for the Northern Ireland Bereaved Families for Justice, opened emphasising the extreme importance of Module 2C to the bereaved families. Ms Campbell then looked at the frustration of requesting disclosure and the slow speed at which it was sent. Ms Campbell highlighted the lack of cross-border communication between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Ms Campbell closed by describing the importance of the grieving process to the people of Northern Ireland and the bereaved families.
December 12th 23’ – Peter Wilcock, Counsel for the Northern Ireland Bereaved Families for Justice, opened acknowledging the efforts the Inquiry have made to make the Northern Ireland focused module as efficient and coequal as possible. He followed by requesting an explicit analysis from experts on the relationships between Belfast, Westminster and Dublin and highlighting the shared issue of data loss from politicians. Mr Wilcock finished by voicing the group’s concerns about the limited number of days available within the listing.
Key Dates
30th May – Marion Reynolds (Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice
1st May – Eddie Lynch (Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland) and Sir David Sterling (former Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service
2nd May – Chris Stewart (The Executive Office Northern Ireland) and Dr Joanne McClean (Director of Public Health, Public Health Agency of Northern Ireland)
3rd May – Karen Pearson (The Executive Office Northern Ireland)
7th May – Richard Pengelly (former Permanent Secretary for Department of Health Northern Ireland) and Prof. Ian Young (Chief Scientific Advisor, Department of Health, Northern Ireland)
10th May – Prof. Sir Michael McBride (Chief Medical Officer, Northern Ireland)
13th May – Robin Swann – (Minister for Health, Northern Ireland)
14th May – Michelle O’Neill (former Deputy First Minister and current First Minister, Northern Ireland)
15th May – Baroness Arlene Foster (former First Minister, Northern Ireland)
Marion Reynolds’s Hearing
Marion eloquently presented her evidence to the Inquiry, speaking about her struggle to watch her aunt be cared for from afar whilst having very little power or influence on the quality of care she received. She expressed her issues of limited familial visitation rights and the lack of understanding regarding individual preferences and nuances. Marion made direct correlation from these issues to her aunt’s decline. She followed this with the very prevalent concern of many that elderly loved ones were given sedative type medication to hasten their demise. She finished strongly, highlighting the unfortunate and unstable position of the Executive and how it affected people’s trust, reliance and confidence in the system.
You can find recordings of the Module 2C Hearings on the UK Covid Inquiry website: Core UK decision-making and Political Governance – Northern Ireland (Module 2C) - Public Hearings - UK Covid-19 Inquiry (covid19.public-inquiry.uk)
News Stories
Covid Inquiry: O’Neill apologises for Storey funeral almost four years on - Covid Inquiry: O’Neill apologises for Storey funeral almost four years on | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
Regrets, insults and hurt: Arlene Foster’s appearance at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Regrets, insults and hurt: Arlene Foster's appearance at the UK Covid-19 inquiry | UTV | ITV News
Covid Inquiry: Sir David Sterling accepts Executive ‘acted too late’ in Covid response - Covid Inquiry: Sir David Sterling accepts Executive 'acted too late' in Covid response - BBC News
Covid Inquiry: What have we learned after three weeks in Belfast? - Covid Inquiry: What have we learned after three weeks in Belfast? - BBC News
Stormont challenged to ‘get on’ and fix gaps uncovered by UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Stormont challenged to ‘get on’ and fix gaps uncovered by UK Covid-19 Inquiry | Express & Star (expressandstar.com)
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Conal McGarrityDirector