Richard Boyd Barrett demands release of expert advisory minutes
Richard Boyd Barrett pressed for publication of expert advisory group minutes linked to the COVID-19 public health response. He said the Chief Medical Officer had promised to publish the minutes but that those commitments to the House and the Business Committee had not been honoured.
Request for publication of minutes
The deputy recalled asking for the publication of expert advisory group minutes on the COVID inquiries line set up by the Business Committee, first raising the question on 16th of March. He said the Chief Medical Officer had given a commitment that the minutes would be published.
Concerns about accountability
Richard Boyd Barrett argued that procedural mechanisms for accountability established by the Business Committee and the Dáil were being undermined. He said promises and commitments had "come to nothing" and asked whether commitments made in the House and to the Business Committee would be respected or were "just meaningless."
Allegation of contempt over refusal to publish
The speaker accused officials of treating the Dáil and the Business Committee with contempt by refusing to release the minutes. He framed the withheld records as central to public accountability for the pandemic response.
Clarification on the advisory group's role and procedural disputes
He emphasised that the minutes relate to the people "who are supposed to be advising Neffet on the public health response," and cautioned colleagues not to conflate subcommittee business with the business of the House. The exchange included interruptions and calls for an answer and for commitments to be respected.
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I want to raise another issue. The sessions that we're having this week, and indeed every week, were established on the basis that we could ask questions to ministers and get accountability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week in the Dáil, I was given a commitment by the CMO that they would publish the minutes of the expert advisory group to Neffet. I'm pointing out that the procedures and the mechanisms for accountability set up by the Business Committee, in my case, the COVID inquiries line, which was set up by the Business Committee, where I first asked the question for the publication of those expert advisory group minutes on the 16th of March, Count Corlea, on the 16th of March. I'm not questioning the validity of the point you're making. I'm not questioning the validity of the point you're making. But are commitments made... No, wait, no, you cannot transact the business of the... No, hold on. I'm asking, are commitments made in this House, and to the Business Committee, are they respected, or are they just meaningless? All right, we'll try and get you an answer on that. Thank you. Well, I've got answers, and I've got commitments, I've got promises, and they've come to nothing. Yeah, well, you've made a point. Now, at this point, the Dáil and the Business Committee have frankly been treated with contempt in the refusal to publish the minutes of the expert advisory group, the people who are supposed to be advising Neffet on the public health response. Please don't conflate the business of the subcommittee with the business of the House. It's not just the subcommittee, it's this House and the Business Committee. Okay, okay, okay. All right. Here's what you're doing! Now, let's make this a little bit вел. All the time. Okay, let's start with. Let's make sure you go further. The...! Ok, wait, let's do it.
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