Health

Stormont leaks during Covid pandemic ‘became a frustration’, ex-NI minister for health tells inquiry

Michelle O’Neill and Arlene Foster also due to give evidence this week

Screen grab from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry live stream of Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann giving evidence in Clayton Hotel in Belfast on Monday. Photograph: UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA Wire

Seanín Graham
Mon May 13 2024 - 17:27

Stormont Executive leaks to media were so common during the Covid-19 pandemic that it was almost as if there was a “live feed” on social media, a public inquiry has heard.

Robin Swann, who served as health minister during the crisis, said the handling of Executive papers on Covid regulations was one of his “largest frustrations”.

He claimed correspondence was deliberately leaked to media late at night in advance of key ministerial meetings to create a “narrative” to “either support or mostly undermine the recommendations that were coming”.

The Ulster Unionist MLA gave evidence on Monday at the Belfast hearing, in what is the third and final week of the UK-wide Covid inquiry into the government’s pandemic response.

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After describing the destabilising effect of “real-time” leaks, Mr Swann was asked by inquiry chair Baroness Hallet if consideration was ever given to banning personal devices during private Executive meetings.

“There was all sorts of attempts made, but the fact that our Executive meetings were being held remotely by Zoom, there were challenges as well,” he replied.

“There were recommendations made by the head of the Civil Service at one stage even that while ministers were on they should have their cameras on at all times, not just when they were speaking.”

A leaks inquiry was undertaken by a senior civil servant at the Department of Finance in 2020 but there was “never any finding” that he could recall, Mr Swann said.

“It became a frustration but I also believe at one point it was so endemic that it became tolerated rather than challenged,” he added.

“At times there was almost a live feed coming from the Executive, especially when it came to those more challenging, more robust decisions that would have to be taken, it was being portrayed live-time on Twitter in regards to who had said what, who was saying what,” he said.

Concerns about Stormont’s preparedness for the pandemic were also raised after it emerged at an earlier hearing that its civil contingency planning for disasters short of war hadn’t been reviewed for more than 20 years.

Lead counsel for the inquiry, Clair Dobbin, asked Mr Swann if being the sole minister from his political party had an impact.

Mr Swann – who was appointed in January 2020 when powersharing returned following a three-year hiatus – said it was a “lonely and challenging position”.

But he added that it was also a “strength” as he did not have to answer to party political colleagues.

“Being the sole minister in there allowed me to step outside some of the constitutional challenges that faced the two larger parties, where at times they could have seen to be more antagonistic, especially in regards to where they looked for their ultimate direction.

“Sinn Féin did take a look and keep an eye on what was happening in the Republic of Ireland and, likewise, the DUP were focused on what was happening in Westminster.”

First Minister Michelle O’Neill is due to give evidence on Tuesday, with her former partner in the Executive Office, Arlene Foster, due to appear on Wednesday.

Ms O’Neill is expected to be questioned on her attendance at the controversial funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey in 2020, which led to a huge political row.

Ms O’Neill served as deputy first minister from January 2020 until February 2022, while Ms Foster was first minister from January 2020 until June 2021.

The inquiry is due to conclude on Thursday.

Seanín Graham

Seanín Graham

Seanín Graham is Northern Correspondent of The Irish Times

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