Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 October 2025
296. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she is concerned that guidelines for the treatment and management of Covid-19 were not issued to GP's until 27 April 2020, ninety days after the first case of Covid was recorded in Europe on 24 January 2020; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55632/25]
View answer298. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the hospital guidelines during Covid in place on or before 23 March 2020 expressly directed the use of hydroxychloroquine as an antiviral treatment; the reason NPHET included it in their treatment guidelines for hospital patients and at the same time requested that it should not be used by GPs in the community or in the nursing homes the very place where it was most badly needed and where it has been safely prescribed by GPs in the community for many decades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55634/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 298 together.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) was an established mechanism for coordinating the health sector response to significant public health emergencies. It facilitated the sharing of information between the Department of Health and its agencies. Throughout its existence, the NPHET for COVID-19 oversaw and provided national direction, guidance, support and expert advice on the development and implementation of a strategy to contain COVID-19 in Ireland.
In particular, the NPHET played a critical role in closely and continuously monitoring the evolving impact of COVID-19 on Ireland’s population, as well as the health service’s capacity, performance, and ability to respond.
The decisions and recommendations of the NPHET are published in full here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/collections/minutes-and-agendas-from-meetings-of-the-nph….
As the Deputy will be aware, a COVID-19 Evaluation Panel has been established. This is an independent, non-statutory evaluation, with a wide remit that will incorporate pandemic responses across hospitals, the community and nursing homes, along with wider economic and societal impacts.
With respect to the development of National Clinical Guidelines (NCGL), the Health Service Executive (HSE) are responsible for the development and updating of NCGLs. As such, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
