Covid inquiry report highlights ‘poor’ relationships between NI parties

A Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLA has defended the executive’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic saying the “vast majority” of decisions were taken “without any controversy or any real issues whatsoever”.

Diane Dodds, who was economy minister for a period during the pandemic, was responding to the latest report by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry found that decision making in Northern Ireland was “was chaotic, and infected by political machination”.

Chair Baroness Heather Hallett said “insufficient attention” was given to the prospect of a second wave of the virus, with only limited contingency planning in place for reintroducing restrictions.

Baroness Hallett said the relationships between ministers were “poor” and “detrimental to good decision making”.

She added that “on multiple occasions” decision making was “marred by political disputes between DUP and Sinn Féin ministers”.

“We operate in a mandatory coalition in Northern Ireland, that means we have parties with differing views on many subjects,” Dodds told the BBC’s The View programme.

She added that, if a pandemic were to re-occur, the executive should make sure that “we are well prepared, have a considered response, and there should be a contingency plan that is fully operational and able to be stood up at very short notice”.

“We need to acknowledge that covid was an incredibly terrible time for everyone in Northern Ireland,” she continued. “We need to take time to look at the report, soak up the details, and then to respond.”

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA, Robin Swann, was health minister at the time of the pandemic.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the UUP said he “acted on the best scientific advice available” and that “his guiding light at all times was keeping the public safe”.

“We were deeply dismayed by the lack of seriousness shown by some executive colleagues during this critical period, including persistent briefing against others and the leaking of confidential information.”

They added that the report’s findings on Sinn Féin members attending the funeral of Bobby Storey were “significant” and that the decision to attend “seriously undermined public trust”.

“It is also clear that DUP colleagues were largely driven by political opportunism and sought to create division within the Executive rather than focus on the collective challenge,” they said.

In response, Dodds said: “Pot, kettle, and black comes to mind.

“This is an opportunity that Robin Swann and the Ulster Unionists have taken to have a swipe at the DUP,” she said, adding that there are “many issues that could be held against whoever within the executive.

“Our thoughts should be with those who still grieve.”

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the report is a “welcome milestone in the long journey of recovery after the pain and trauma” of the pandemic.

“Covid was an unprecedented global emergency and this report will provide further lessons from the experience at all levels of society,” the Sinn Féin deputy leader added.

“Those lessons must inform our preparedness for, and response to, any future pandemic or society-wide emergency in the future,” she said.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister called the executive “dysfunctional as ever”, adding that “even for covid” ministers “couldn’t get it together”.

A spokesperson for The Executive Office said the report is a “significant milestone”, and that “there are lessons to be learned and the cross-departmental group established to take forward recommendations continues to meet and will now consider today’s findings”.

The report gives a long list of suggestions, including 19 specific recommendations for Northern Ireland, to avoid “a potential vacuum of decision-making powers”.

They include:

• Reconstructing the role of chief medical officer for Northern Ireland as an independent advisory role.
• A review into how powers are delegated in government during an emergency.
• Amending the ministerial code to prohibit the disclosure of individual views expressed during meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive Committee.
• Establishing structures to improve communication between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland during an emergency.

Baroness Hallett said the recommendations should be acted upon and implemented in a “timely manner” to better protect the people of Northern Ireland.

“Unless lessons are learned, and fundamental change is implemented in Northern Ireland, the human and financial cost and sacrifice of the Covid-19 pandemic will have been in vain.”