Ireland's Covid struggles has put new focus on our place within EU

The idea that we would follow Australia and New Zealand and shut the ports of entry 'was never a runner', in part due to EU freedom of movement rules.

An Aer Lingus airbus A320 on the tarmac prior to departure to London Heathrow, at Cork Airport terminal building. Picture: Larry Cummins

When the European Council met this week in Brussels, it took time to look at the "lessons learned" from the Covid crisis thus far.

In Ireland, when the time comes to look at how we have handled the last 16 months, much of the focus will be on how Ireland's place in Europe shaped how we could and could not react.