National Serosurveillance Programme Steering Committee
- What is the Steering Committee?
- What does the Steering Committee do?
- Who is on the Steering Committee?
- Steering Committee Minutes
What is the Steering Committee?
The Steering Committee oversees the work of the National Serosurveillance Programme (the Programme). It is currently made up of 18 members and one Chair, all with relevant experience and expertise. The Steering Committee meets four times a year and secretarial support is provided by the Seroepidemiology Unit team in HPSC. Its first meeting was in October 2021.
Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)
In 2022, the National Serosurveillance Programme (NSP) implemented a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) strategy. In the context of the NSP, PPI means actively working with members of the public to design, plan and carry out serosurveillance. It means that serosurveillance is done ‘with’ the public rather than ‘to’ the public.
As part of this strategy, two members of the public were appointed to the Steering Committee following a recruitment campaign. These public representatives attend Steering Committee meetings and give feedback on the work of the Programme.
What does the Steering Committee do?
The Steering Committee gives advice and guidance on important scientific, administrative and ethical aspects of the Programme. They decide what work should be carried out and make sure this work stays within agreed policies and procedures at all times. The Committee also ensures that all activities of the Programme are fair, transparent and open to public scrutiny.
A summary of the Committee’s work is outlined in the Terms of Reference below:
- Agree what work will be carried out annually and in the future, and oversee its delivery
- Review changes to the programme as it develops, including changes to current and future priorities, methodologies and budget
- Provide support, expertise and advice that strengthens the design of the Programme in line with Public Health priorities
- Encourage visibility, publication and use of data collected as part of the Programme to support public health policies and actions
- Ensure the Programme complies with legal and ethical principles, in order to promote and maintain public confidence and trust
- Advise on financial matters, including audit requirements
- Promote and explain the purpose of the Programme to external stakeholders
- Encourage and support collaboration with relevant international agencies and partners
- Oversee the scientific outputs of the Programme
- Identify, monitor and propose solutions to potential risks to the Programme, including any conflicts that may arise
Who is on the Steering Committee?
These are the members of the Steering Committee:
| Name | Location | Title/Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
|
Prof Noel McCarthy (Chair) | Trinity College |
Professor of Population Health Medicine |
| Burke, Ms Deirdre | National Virus Reference Laboratory | Laboratory Manager |
| Cunney, Dr Robert | CHI at Temple Street | Consultant Microbiologist |
| Crushell, Dr Ellen | Department of Health | Deputy Chief Medical Officer |
| Davey, Mr Ryan | Public Representative | |
| De Gascun, Dr Cillian | National Virus Reference Laboratory | Consultant Virologist & Director NVRL |
| Dunne, Dr Jean | St James' Hospital | Laboratory Director |
| Forde, Ms Majella | Public Representative | |
| Griffin, Dr Damian | Galway University Hospital | Consultant Chemical Pathologist, representing Faculty of Pathology Chemical Pathologists |
| Igoe, Dr Derval | Health Protection Surveillance Centre | Consultant in Public Health Medicine, National Health Protection Office |
| Jackson, Ms Bernadette | Naas General Hospital | Point of Care Manager, representing the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine |
| Jessop, Dr Lucy | National Immunisation Office | Director of Public Health, NIO |
| Keogan, Prof Mary | Beaumont Hospital | Consultant Clinical Immunologist |
| Leonard, Dr Ann | Tallaght University Hospital | Quality Innovative Manager, representing Peri Analytic and Laboratory Medicine Society |
| Muldoon, Dr Eavan | Mater Misericordiae University Hospital | Consultant in Infectious Diseases |
| Murray, Dr Helena | National Immunisation Advisory Commitee | Consultant Special Advisor |
|
Ní Bhriain, Dr Siobhán | Tallaght University Hospital | National Lead, Integrated Care, HSE. nominated by the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer |
|
O'Connor, Dr Lois | Health Protection Surveillance Centre | Interim Clinical Lead for Surveillance |
| O’Flaherty, Dr Niamh | Irish Blood Transfusion Service | Consultant Clinical Microbiologist |
| O'Moore, Dr
Éamonn | Health Protection Surveillance Centre | Director National Health Protection |
| O’Sullivan, Dr Margaret | Department of Public Health, Health Service Executive | Consultant in Public Health Medicine |
| Srinivasan, Dr Shari | Beaumont Hospital | Consultant Chemical Pathologist |
If a member of the Steering Committee cannot attend a meeting, a designated alternate may attend on their behalf. These are the alternate members:
| Name | Location | Alternate Member | Title/Affiliation of Alternate Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prof Noel McCarthy (Chair) | Trinity College | ||
| Burke, Ms Deirdre | National Virus Reference Laboratory | Eimear Malone | Deputy laboratory manager, NVRL |
| Cunney, Dr Robert | CHI at Temple Steet | Dr Alida FeTalento | Consultant Microbiologist, CHI at Temple Street |
| De Gascun, Dr Cillian | National Virus Reference Laboratory | Dr Daniel Hare | Deputy Director, NVRL |
| Griffin, Dr Damian | Galway University Hospital | Dr Shari Srinivasan | Consultant Chemical Pathologist |
| Bonner, Dr Colette | Department of Health | ||
| Jackson, Ms Bernadette | Naas General Hospital | Sinead Creagh | Laboratory Manager, Cork University Hospital |
| Keogan, Prof Mary | Beaumont Hospital | Dr Kira Casey | NCHD Registrar, Beaumont Hospital |
| Leonard, Dr Ann | Tallaght University Hospital | Eoin Begley | Chief Medical Scientist, Biochemistry Laboratory, TUH |
| Martin, Dr Greg | Health Protection Surveillane Centre | ||
|
Ní Bhriain, Dr Siobhán |
Health Service Executive Integrated Care Lead | Dr Catherine Fleming | Clinical Programme in Infectious Disease |
| O’Flaherty, Dr Niamh | Irish Blood Transfusion Service | Dermot Coyne | Chief Medical Scientist, Virology Science, IBTS |
| O’Sullivan, Dr Margaret | Department of Public Health, Health Service Executive South | Dr Anne Sheahan | Assistant Director in Public Health HSE South |
Ireland’s specialist service for the surveillance of communicable diseases.