Paul Hosford: Deviating from Nphet's advice gave the Government nowhere to hide

Pressure is mounting regarding decisions taken on all sides

Taoiseach Micheál Martin arriving to address the nation at Government Buildings, Dublin, where he announced Ireland will face level 5 coronavirus restrictions for at least a month. Picture: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire

Back in November — which now feels like a lifetime and several Covid levels ago — the Government's announcement that it would be moving the country to level 3 of the framework of restrictions was the biggest deviation from public health officials' advice thus far in the pandemic.

The gamble was based on legitimate reasoning — Taoiseach Micheál Martin was keenly aware that people had carried as much weight as they possibly could in 2020, and a lockdown Christmas was too bleak a prospect countenance.