Sinn Fein MLA slammed for describing NI track and trace system ‘as useful as a chocolate fireguard’

The row broke out when senior officials from the PHA were providing evidence to the health committee on Thursday morning.
MLA for Belfast West, Pat Sheehan, asked PHA interim chief executive, Olive Macleod to provide the committee with specific details on staffing levels connected to the Covid-19 track and trace system.

Ms. Macleod was asked if she could tell the committee how many full-time equivalents were currently employed by the track and system,
Ms. Macleod was unable to provide the information.

Chief Executive Macleod and several other senior PHA figures attended the meeting virtually by way of video conference call.

“I have been contacted by people telling me about dozens and dozens of cases that are not being contact traced,” claimed Mr. Sheehan.

“You are all well paid - you were tasked with creating a rigorous and robust track and trace system but you have failed abysmally.

“The contact tracing system is as useful as a chocolate fireguard.”

Chief Executive Macleod rejected Mr. Sheehan’s description and responded by saying the track and trace system was an “effective service”.

“I think you [Pat Sheehan] do a disservice to the team who are working on the track and trace system.

“They worked right through the summer to get the system up and running,” said Chief Executive Macleod.

Health Committee Chair and Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew interrupted to ask Ms. Macleod if she could tell the committee how many full time equivalents were currently working in the track and trace system.

Again, Ms. Macleod was unable to provide this information.

Mr. Gildernew expressed concern and accused the PHA of underestimating how many staff were required to operate an effective track and trace system.

The PHA officials finished presenting evidence and answering questions a few minutes later.

As the committee started to discuss the evidence provided by the PHA, health committee member and UUP MLA for North Down, Alan Chambers, described Mr. Sheehan’s comment to the Chief Executive as “unhelpful” and said he was wrong to refer to their salaries.

DUP MLA and health committee member, Pam Cameron, said she was horrified at Mr. Sheehan’s questioning, called for him to apologise and accused him of hypocrisy because of the actions of Sinn Fein vice-president and deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, at the funeral of veteran republican Bobby Storey at the end of June.

Alliance Party MLA and health committee member, Paula Bradshaw, said she thought Mr. Sheehan had “gone too far”.

SDLP MLA and health committee member, Colin McGrath, said Mr. Sheehan’s comments were “born out of frustration” and said he found the answers provided by the Chief Executive of the PHA as “cringing”.

The PHA has been asked if it would like to issue a statement.