Taoiseach Micheál Martin Meets Covid Inquiry Panel; Report Due Early 2027

Taoiseach Micheál Martin met with the Covid inquiry panel for an in-depth Q&A session on the government’s pandemic response. The independent evaluation, established in 2024, is expected to be completed by year-end, with a final report due in early 2027.

The discussion focused on the government’s response from June 2020 to February 2022, a period during which Martin was in office. It also included reflections for future large-scale events. Unlike other global Covid-19 inquiries, interviews with senior decision-makers, including the Taoiseach, will not be aired publicly, nor will transcripts be published.

Professor Anne Scott, chairwoman of the Covid-19 Evaluation, confirmed this, stating the process is not a public inquiry and is not intended to «point fingers». The panel examining pandemic responses across various sectors, including hospitals, nursing homes, and economic impacts, conducted the Q&A with Martin at Government Buildings on Monday. Panel members included Professor David Heymann, Dr Nat O’Connor, Dr Nora Strecker, Professor Bert Gordijn, and Professor Sara Burke.