He also claimed the vaccine rollout succeeded partly because it was not run by the department of health. Alongside this, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), and particularly Dr Holohan, rose to prominence, and power. “Locating all the institutional power of Nphet in one individual means they carry too much power and too much responsibility.”Privately, many Nphet members don’t dispute the unusual extent of its powers. The Senior Officials Group, led by Fraser, was designed to blend Nphet advice with wider perspectives before they were sent to the Cabinet Covid subcommittee. However, it has had limited success, often overtaken by events, as well as the force and high visibility of Nphet recommendations.

Source: The Irish Times March 20, 2021 01:00 UTC