Tony Holohan told the Minister of Health his concerns about the increase in Covid-19 cases

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was aware of CMO Dr. Tony Holohan’s concerns about an increase in Covid-19 cases before Nphet met on Sunday, prompting calls for clarity from the opposition.

Dr. Holohan told Nphet’s press conference on Wednesday that he had telephoned Donnelly before and after the meeting, in which it was decided that Nphet would recommend moving to level 5 restrictions across the country.

“We discussed my concerns, the concerns I shared with him about the conversations he had with various members of Nphet over the course of the previous 24 hours.

“I was very clear about the level of concern that I would have and had,” Dr. Holohan said.

Labor leader Alan Kelly tweeted that Donnelly did not provide the information that he had been in contact with Dr. Holohan at Monday’s press conference or on RTÉ’s Prime Time on Tuesday.

Minister Donnelly should clear up this latest controversy as to why the government was not kept informed on Saturdays and Sundays, after we now know that the CMO informed him of NPHET’s concerns.

I am not aware of him offering any of this at the Monday press conference or at @morningireland or @RTE_PrimeTime Yesterday

– Alan Kelly TD (@alankellylabour) October 7, 2020

The co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall, said Donnelly needed to address the situation.

“I ask Health Minister Stephen Donnelly TD to make a full statement on what he was told Sunday morning and evening and what he did with that information.

The country was distracted by an improper dispute between the Government and Nphet precisely at the time when all attention should have been on responding to the increase in Covid-19 cases.

A spokesman for Mr. Donnelly said he had reached out to the Taoiseach on the matter.

Minister Donnelly informed the Taoiseach on Saturday afternoon that a Nphet meeting would be held on Sunday due to concerns about the increase in the number of cases.

“The Minister of Health and CMO spoke before and after the Nphet meeting on Sunday. Before the meeting, they discussed the deterioration of the epidemiological situation.

“After the meeting, the Minister was informed for the first time that Nphet recommended a move to level 5.

“The Minister and Taoiseach communicated after both talks between the Minister and the CMO on Sunday.”