STORMONT ministers, a former Secretary of State and Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer will be among witnesses appearing before the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in Belfast this week.
On Tuesday, the former health permanent secretary Richard Pengelly will answer questions followed by Northern Ireland’s Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Ian Young.
Five previous Stormont ministers who were in office during the pandemic will appear on Wednesday – the DUP’s Peter Weir (Education), the DUP’s Diane Dodds (Economy) and from Sinn Féin; Conor Murphy (then Finance and now Economy Minister), Deirdre Hargey and Carál Ní Chuilín (both Communities).
On Thursday the Alliance leader and Justice Minister Naomi Long, who also held the post during the pandemic, will appear as well as the DUP’s former Agriculture and Environment Minister Edwin Poots.
The former Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis will appear on Thursday afternoon before Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Michael McBride, will give evidence on Friday.
Last week at the inquiry, it emerged that missing notes from a key Stormont Executive meeting following the controversial funeral of republican Bobby Storey had resurfaced.
There was a political fallout after Sinn Féin leaders including then Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill had joined the huge crowds for the funeral in June 2020 despite restrictions on mass gatherings at the time.
There was political controversy after Sinn Féín leaders including then Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill joined the huge crowd in June 2020, despite coronavirus restrictions that limited gatherings at the time.
There were also questions last week about WhatsApp information being deleted from the mobile phones of Stormont ministers and a suggestion that the Health Minister Robin Swann would be reshuffled from his position during the pandemic.
This was played down by senior civil servant Karen Pearson, who said in reality it wasn’t being contemplated.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry first started in July 2022, with the first module examining how well the UK was prepared for a pandemic.
The second module is looking at the political and administrative decision-making of the Westminster and devolved governments.
With the inquiry expected to conclude in 2026, the remaining five modules are covering the impact on four healthcare systems in the UK, vaccines, procurement, the impact on adult social care and the approach to testing, tracing and isolation.
