AQW 4957/17-22 Written question to the First Minister and deputy First Minister
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) to outline their plans to evaluate the Executive's response to COVID-19; (ii) whether they will consider an independent review of the Executive's response to COVID-19; and (iii) whether they will update their government emergency plan following the learning experiences of COVID-19.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 17 June 2020
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 17 June 2020
- Answer due by
- 2 July 2020
- Answered
- 23 July 202036 days after tabling
- Department
- The Executive Office
- Priority question
- No
Answer
All actions taken by the Executive in its response to the pandemic have been aimed at securing best outcomes against the three key Executive priorities:
•Health and wellbeing of our citizens
•Our economic wellbeing and preparation to revitalise the economy; and
•Our societal and community well being
At each stage of the Covid-19 crisis, the Executive has maintained a dynamic approach to its response, putting in place measures appropriate to unique local circumstances and needs.
The Executive has reviewed its actions in relation to Covid-19 on a regular basis to ensure a holistic view of the state of play for the response phase before moving into the recovery phase.
The Department of Health (DoH) has an Emergency Response Plan which is reviewed and revised regularly, and at least annually, following major incidents and/or training exercises. DoH will update its Emergency Response Plan to reflect the lessons learned from its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the operational phase of the NI Hub the following reviews took place:
NI Hub capability Review (April 2020)
Maturity Assessment of the Departmental Operating Centres (DOCs) (April 2020)
Review of the Civil Contingencies Group (NI) (May 2020)
An independent lessons learned review of the Control Command and Co-ordination (C3) structures was commissioned in May 2020 and is nearing completion. A final report is expected by the end of June 2020.
Work is already ongoing to implement the recommendations from the three completed reviews and further consideration will be given to the recommendations from the C3 lessons learned review, once it completes. In addition, officials will participate in a Devolved Administrations COVID 19 lessons learned exercise in early July.