Better news after Swann’s savaging. But we need more local reporting in depth. Urgently

We’ve now  received more positive news about the running story in the last 24 hours, like Randox is now supplying NI directly. The running story is course  essential. but  needs to be set in context  Why aren’t the regular media producing the sort of comparative analysis  just supplied by Ian James Parsley?. The political argy bargy distorts the  real story that matters.

It’s amazing the Executive can’t get this act together to  produce this sort of report as  a matter of course. What are all those civil servants  including  the droves of PR people  still on full salaries  doing? Is there another document Arlene hasn’t got  around to reading? Or Michelle is studiously ignoring? Are they too distracted by the squabbling?  Ian puts the rest of us to shame, I congratulate him warmly for ploughing through the records to make this report. The hard pressed newspapers have just enough resources and BBC NI certainly has. Have I missed it? If I m wrong I look forward to being corrected. Thanks again Ian – but we shouldn’t have to rely on your labour of love.

… the notion that ( Robin Swann, Health minister)  is (and his colleagues are) “slavishly” following the UK’s lead on everything is simply contrary to fact.

Firstly, although Northern Ireland has been slow on testing, it has been much faster than the rest of the UK. Per head, Northern Ireland has tested 50% more of its population and began testing health workers sooner.

Secondly, Northern Ireland has sought its own equipment including through all-Ireland orders as well as ensuring it is part of UK bulk orders. The facts have shown this week that the latter is a much more reliable supply than the former, but the fact is various routes are being attempted (including directly via Invest NI). Northern Ireland will also now have a guaranteed supply of testing kits from Randox, and should end up with more ventilators proportionately……

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Brian Walker

Former BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ Coll. London