Taoiseach questioned by inquiry into handling of covid pandemic

Inquiry into handling of covid pandemic will be concluded before end of 2026, says Micheál Martin

Taoiseach Micheál Martin met with the independent covid-19 evaluation panel on Monday. File picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

An inquiry into Ireland's handling of the covid pandemic will be concluded before the end of the year, with the Taoiseach undergoing questioning from experts this week, Cabinet has been told.

The independent evaluation was established in 2025 to examine pandemic responses across hospitals, the community, and nursing homes, along with wider economic and societal impacts.

The evaluation is designed to compile a factual account of the pandemic from January 2020 to February 2022, to identify lessons, and guide future decisions.

The evaluation panel, led by chairperson Anne Scott, is scheduled to conclude its work by the end of the year, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told ministers on Tuesday.

It has conducted three public consultations and will culminate in a final comprehensive report which is set to be published in early 2027, with a progress update to be published this week.

A government spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that members of the independent covid-19 evaluation panel met with the Taoiseach on Monday for an "in-depth bilateral question-and-answer format discussion about the covid-19 pandemic response in Ireland".

"The discussion focused on the Government's response to the pandemic from the period of June 2020–February 2022, a time in which the Taoiseach was in office that also falls within the evaluation’s terms of reference. The discussion also encompassed reflections for a future event of this scale," a statement said.

Members of the evaluation panel present included chair Prof Anne Scott, Prof David Heymann, Nat O’Connor, Nora Strecker, Prof Bert Gordijn, and Prof Sara Burke, who acted as an expert to the panel.

• Paul Hosford is Deputy Political Editor