Venue: Virtual Meeting
Date: Wednesday December 2, 2020 at 10.00am
Item |
Description |
1 |
|
2 |
Macro-Economic Directorate – COVID-19 Challenges and Opportunities; Priorities; Challenges & Data Gaps; Future Plans; Risks & Mitigations. |
3 |
CSO Director General’s Report to NSB including COVID data update |
4 |
Informing COVID: Epidemiology Project Berni Dunne, Administrative Data Centre, CSO |
5 |
Discussion paper |
6 |
Discussion paper |
7 |
|
8 |
National Statistics Board
Minutes
The meeting took place remotely using video conferencing software.
Date: Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Members present: Ms. Anne Vaughan (Chairperson), Ms. Eithne Fitzgerald, Mr. John Martin, Dr. Eimear Cotter, Mr. Gerard Brady, Mr. John McCarthy and Mr. Pádraig Dalton.
Non-members in attendance: Mr. Paul Morrin, Mr. Richie McMahon, Ms. Jennifer Banim (CSO Senior Management) and Ms. Claire Hanley (Secretary).
Apologies: Mr John Shaw.
Item 1: Minutes of NSB meeting September 9, 2020 (NSB 2020-5-2)
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed.
Item 2: Macro-Economic Directorate (NSB 2020-5-3)
Jennifer Banim (CSO) presented an overview of the Macro-Economic Directorate under the following headings: COVID-19 Challenges and Opportunities; Priorities; Challenges & Data Gaps; Future Plans; Risks & Mitigations.
The Board congratulated Jennifer and the CSO team working in the macro-economic division on the work carried out; particularly in overcoming some of the challenges posed by COVID-19. Specific items were discussed in more detail:
Item 3: CSO Director General’s Report to NSB (NSB 2020-5-4)
The Director General briefed the Board on a number of recent developments within CSO. The Board welcomed the update and some issues were discussed further, these included:
Item 4: Informing COVID-19 – Epidemiology (NSB 2020-5-5)
Berni Dunne (CSO) presented a project undertaken by the CSO in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which involved the amalgamation by the CSO of new and existing health data sources using common identifiers. This work facilitated the development of a COVID-19 Data Research Hub which enabled specialised experts such as epidemiology and related subject matter experts to collaborate with CSO teams in analysing sensitive health data sources under the Statistics Act 1993. This work helped to inform the response to the pandemic and support the data needs of the National Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
The Board congratulated Berni and the CSO team who worked on the project and discussed the data processing challenges in the absence of common identifiers on the data sources used, particularly the lack of Eircode coverage on the data which is critical in providing geographical analysis. In addition, the Board asked about the data governance involved in the project; the CSO are currently undertaking Data Protection Impact Assessments to identify and mitigate against any data protection related risks prior to widening the Research Hub to other users.
Item 5: Issues with Eircode adoption (NSB 2020-5-6)
Paul Morrin (CSO) presented the paper on issues with Eircode adoption by Public Sector Bodies. The Board discussed the importance of the Eircode in moving forward with the National Data Infrastructure; their role in highlighting current obstacles to Eircode capture and various ways in which they could provide leadership in this space. The Board agreed to communicate the issues in their strategy for 2021-2026 particularly in relation to challenges around licensing and saw the Eircode as a public good which should be within the public sector. They will return to this item at the February 2021 meeting.
Item 6: Census in Ireland (NSB 2020-5-7)
Richard McMahon (CSO) presented a paper for discussion on Census taking in Ireland which included information on census attribute data that will be collected in 2022 and details of where comparable data has been collected across CSO household surveys which may help to fill the gaps caused by the deferral of Census 2021. The paper also gave details of the Administrative Census Pilot planned for 2021.
The Board welcomed the paper and emphasised the statistical importance of the Census in benchmarking and measuring population changes over time, particularly in areas such as disability. They expressed some concerns in relation to a census based on administrative data and the potential loss of detail for small sub-groups of society. The Board discussed their role in guiding the future direction of census taking in Ireland and felt that providing such guidance would be a key part of their role as defined in the Statistics Act 1993. The Board agreed that the joint CSO/NSB seminar would take place at a later date in 2021, in order to incorporate the publication of the first output from the Administrative Census project due by mid-2021.
A special meeting of the Board is scheduled for December 16, 2020 to discuss the draft NSB strategy 2021-2026. The schedule of meetings for 2021 was circulated to the Board and the Chair asked that members notify the Secretary if they have an issue with any of the proposed dates.
A short discussion took place for non-CSO Board members.