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NI Health Inquiry: Political Decisions Off-Limits, Says Official

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. olitical-decisions-off-limits-says-official.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, January 28th 2026 at 12:59 GMT by The Irish News
      Locales: Northern Ireland, UNITED KINGDOM

Belfast, January 28th, 2026 - Richard Gray, Permanent Secretary for Health in Northern Ireland, has firmly stated that directing the ongoing Public Inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in hospitals to investigate political decisions would constitute a breach of legal limitations. The clarification comes as pressure mounts for the inquiry to extend its scope beyond operational healthcare responses and delve into the broader governmental strategy during the crisis.

Speaking today, Mr. Gray underscored the critical importance of maintaining the inquiry's independence and adherence to the established legal framework. He explained that the inquiry's terms of reference are explicitly defined in law, focusing specifically on the operational decisions made within healthcare bodies - encompassing service delivery and internal decision-making processes. Attempts to broaden the inquiry's mandate to include the examination of political decisions, he asserted, would be unlawful.

"My legal advice is unequivocal," Mr. Gray stated. "Instructing the inquiry to investigate political decisions would be a clear overstep of its legal remit. The terms of reference are set, and the Department cannot alter them."

The insistence on maintaining the inquiry's current scope has sparked debate, with some critics arguing that a comprehensive understanding of the pandemic response requires an assessment of the political context informing those operational decisions. They contend that separating healthcare actions from the broader political strategy creates an incomplete picture, potentially hindering the learning process and preventing effective improvements for future public health crises.

However, Mr. Gray emphasized the inherent limitations of a public inquiry, stressing that it is not designed to be a political tribunal. "The inquiry is designed to examine how healthcare bodies responded, not why political decisions were made," he clarified. "While the inquiry will certainly scrutinize the decisions made at the operational level - including resource allocation, treatment protocols, and service adjustments - it cannot and should not venture into the realm of political judgment."

Concerns have also been raised regarding the inquiry's funding and resource allocation, with some questioning whether it possesses sufficient resources to conduct a thorough investigation, even within its defined scope. Mr. Gray addressed these concerns directly, stating that the Department of Health is providing "full support...within its legal powers and budgetary constraints." He confirmed that all necessary information is being provided to the inquiry, and the Department is cooperating fully with its work.

The commitment to transparency and openness was repeatedly stressed. Mr. Gray acknowledged the public's legitimate desire for answers and accountability, but insisted that this must be balanced against the need to operate within the bounds of the law. He reiterated that while the Department is committed to providing as much information as possible, it cannot compromise legal principles.

The unfolding situation highlights the often-complex relationship between public inquiries and political accountability. While inquiries are crucial for identifying lessons learned and improving future responses to crises, their scope is often carefully circumscribed by legal and political considerations. The Northern Ireland case underscores the challenge of balancing the public's right to know with the need to protect the independence of the inquiry and the integrity of the legal process.

The inquiry is expected to publish its initial findings later this year, focusing on the operational responses of healthcare bodies during the first and second waves of the pandemic. The debate over the inquiry's scope is likely to continue, with pressure mounting from families of victims and advocacy groups for a broader investigation that encompasses the political decisions that shaped the overall response.