Press release
Minister for Health announces plans to appoint an expert to design a new emerging health threats agency
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has today announced he will appoint an expert to design a new emerging health threats agency, following government approval.
The agency will build on existing assets and infrastructure to focus on infectious diseases, pandemic preparedness and other emerging threats to public health.
The announcement follows consideration of the report of the Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group, which is published today.
A proposal on the scope and functions of the agency will be brought to Government within six months.
In addition, public health capacity in the Department of Health will be strengthened through the immediate allocation of additional expertise to the office of the Chief Medical Officer.
Minister Donnelly said:
"I'm delighted to announce that work has commenced on the establishment of a public health agency, following my consideration of the Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group report.
"Ireland responded very well to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the report confirms this, pointing to lower excess mortality, lower surges in hospitalisations and high vaccination rates when compared with other EU countries.
"However, we must be ready for future unknown health threats. This new agency will ensure strengthened preparedness, by consolidating existing expertise across the health service together with additional resources."
The Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group, chaired by the president of Imperial College London, Professor Hugh Brady, was tasked with identifying learnings from the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. It was also asked to consider international best practice in making recommendations for measures to strengthen health protection and improve future public health pandemic preparedness specifically.
It concluded that Ireland performed well in response to COVID-19, highlighting the fact that Ireland’s excess mortality was among the lowest in Europe and globally.
While the cumulative case rate in Ireland was in line with the EU-27 average, surges in hospitalisations were of a lower and shorter duration than those experienced by many European countries.
It also highlighted how Ireland’s vaccination rates were among the highest in Europe, and emphasised the importance of the collective commitment of the public health workforce to the COVID-19 response.
Publishing the report, Minister Donnelly said:
"I'd like to thank Professor Hugh Brady, and all the members for their work which provides us with a valuable road map as we continue to strengthen Ireland’s preparedness for future health threats.
"The government’s commitment to delivering on this task is underlined by investment in additional capacity within the Health Service Executive.
"Since 2021, we have filled 40 consultant posts in public health medicine, with 242 staff hired under the public health reform programme and an additional 89 staff allocated to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to enhance the national infectious disease surveillance system."
The Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth said:
"I welcome the findings of the Group, and their recognition of the leading role that the public health workforce has to play in protecting the population, preventing ill-health and promoting wellbeing.
"We have seen the impact of COVID-19 on all parts of our society and in particular on our most vulnerable citizens. We must continue to work together to be prepared for future emerging health threats.
"In addition to COVID-19 we have seen the risk posed by other recent emerging health threats, including the emergence of Mpox in 2022, recent outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg disease internationally, and ongoing global surveillance of the evolving threat posed by avian influenza, and the risk to human health. I welcome government’s commitment to strengthening pandemic preparedness and preparedness for other emerging health threats and to strengthening my office to lead this work."
The Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group is independent and was responsible for the organisation and direction of its work, with administrative support provided by a secretariat from the Department of Health.