Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
1117. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific actions, funding approvals, or implementation milestones have been approved by her Department arising from the ESG report published in October 2024. [12080/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraProgress has been made to date on the recommendations of the Emerging Health Threats Steering Group (ESG) Report (https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/report-of-the-emerging-health-threats-function-expert-steering-group.pdf).
Substantive Government investment in public health reform and pandemic preparedness has taken place in recent years to ensure Ireland is better prepared for future emerging health threats, following Government approval in September 2020 for significant, permanent additional public health resources to supplement the temporary resources provided to manage the pandemic.
Significant priorities and milestones to date include:
• A Health Threats Advisory Committee (HTAC) was established by the Department of Health in 2025 to provide public health advice to Government, and other key stakeholders, including the Office of Emergency Planning, to inform and support the implementation of response actions to a public health emergency.
• The cross-departmental One Health Oversight Committee was established in 2025 to facilitate collaboration that enhances public health intelligence and improve evidence for decision-making so that Ireland can prevent, predict, prepare for, and effectively manage health threats.
• Following funding approval at the end of 2025, a dedicated Evidence Synthesis Hub for Health Emergency Preparedness, including pandemic preparedness, is being established as an expansion of the existing Evidence Synthesis Ireland network. The Hub will operate as a hub and spoke model for rapid evidence synthesis in response to requests commissioned through the Department of Health.
• Preparations are underway for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment (PHEPA) of Ireland by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) in June 2026. The PHEPA is a requirement under Article 8 of the Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health Regulation (2022) which aims to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response planning across all EU Member States by providing evidence-based recommendations to each Member State following assessment of their preparedness across a number of capacities.
• A National Health Threats Preparedness Plan is being developed, to ensure clear lines of responsibility, governance, and management for future health threats. This Plan will also reflect the outcomes of the PHEPA assessment.
• A national strategy for the stockpiling of crisis medical countermeasures will be developed as part of overall preparedness planning.
• Several Pandemic Preparedness simulation exercises have, and continue, to take place at national, all-Island and EU level since 2022, building on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, international measures, such as the enhanced mandates for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Medicines Agency, the establishment of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA), the adoption of the Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health Regulation (2022), and amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005), all support Ireland’s national preparedness an ensures alignment with both EU and international best practices.
Ireland also continues to be involved in the ongoing negotiations regarding the PABS Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement which was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 20 May 2025.
