Why Is Ireland Still Avoiding a Statutory Covid Inquiry?
Interview: Ireland's closed-door Covid-19 Evaluation and the debate over transparency, accountability, and policy learning.
Shamsoddin Shariati
Published in Newstalk Daily.
I was interviewed by Newstalk Daily for its discussion, "Why Is Ireland Still Avoiding a Statutory Covid Inquiry?", which examined the contrast between the UK's public statutory inquiry and Ireland's closed-door Covid-19 Evaluation. In the interview, I discussed the potential value of an expert-led review in focusing on evidence, policy learning, and institutional improvement, while also recognising the wider public debate around transparency, accountability, and the experiences of families affected by the pandemic.
The conversation also considered whether Ireland can effectively learn the necessary lessons from Covid-19 without reproducing the political conflict and public spectacle associated with the UK inquiry.