PSNI chief signs terms of reference for joint COVID-19 review with An Garda Síochána

By Q Radio News

The PSNI chief constable has formally signed the terms of reference for a joint review with An Garda Siochana into the response to Covid19.   

Simon Byrne met with Commissioner Drew Harris in Aughnacloy this morning.   

A PSNI spokesperson said: "As already discussed at Thursday’s meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Chief Constable and the Commissioner this morning formally signed the terms of reference for the joint review of the Police Service NI and An Garda Síochána response to the Covid-19 pandemic."

They later conducted a joint patrol with local officers on the County Tyrone/Monaghan border.

Last month, Ireland's Justice Minister Charles Flanagan and Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long held a teleconference to discuss the close cooperation in place between the police forces on both sides of the border in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Positive meeting with @GardaTraffic Commissioner on the Tyrone/Monaghan border this morning. We agreed the TOR for the joint review of the #Covid19 response & discussed our continued joint approach. Also good to get out on patrol together, a strong partnership #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/S2giiXoOhI

— Simon Byrne (@ChiefConPSNI) May 9, 2020

It comes as Business Minister Heather Humphreys says the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is not to blame for the high number of cases of Covid-19 in Co Cavan and Co Monaghan.

Co Cavan remains the county with the highest incidence of Covid-19, with 883.5 cases per 100,000 of population, followed by Co Dublin with an incidence of 772.3 and Co Monaghan, where the incidence is 666.3.

Ms Humphreys said: "This is a matter of concern and I have raised it at the highest level with the HSE, who I know are keeping the matter under review.

"The reason for the increase in cases was due to an incident in March at the hospital in Cavan among the workers there. A lot of the workers live in shared accommodation. That was coupled with the fact there was a fairly large outbreak in residential nursing homes. That caused some problems.

"I am absolutely satisfied there is no evidence to suggest that the virus is increased numbers there because of the border with Northern Ireland. The numbers of cases of Covid-19 have reduced somewhat since that outbreak was first reported."

She said she is satisfied there is ongoing co-operation between the health and justice ministers in the Republic and Northern Ireland.