Let Me Tell You: Episode 1 - Paschal Donohoe details 'existential challenge' during first lockdown

The finance minister made the comments in the new 'Irish Examiner' podcast, Let Me Tell You

Paschal Donohoe says he reacted viscerally to then CMO Tony Holohan's call to impose severe restrictions just days before Budget 2021 was due to be delivered by Mr Donohoe and Michael McGrath. File picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said the country faced an “existential challenge” during the first Covid lockdown in March 2020 in not being able to look after its own people in a time of emergency.

Mr Donohoe also says he was “really, really angry” at then chief medical officer (CMO) Tony Holohan’s demand to introduce a full Level 5 Covid-19 lockdown in October 2020.