Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said that the government had not recommended Level 5 restrictions and was shocked when the National Public Hospital Emergency Team made the demand last Sunday.
Meanwhile, Varadkar made it clear that he had never spoken ill of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan and he said that he had respect for him.
Varadkar’s remarks about the CMO in a program presented by the RTE on Monday night drew widespread criticism.
He said the NPHET’s recommendation to impose Level 5 restrictions would cause panic among the people and cause great concern among the people.
Varadkar said that the government aims to implement Covid defense activities in a phased manner, as part of which Level 3 restrictions were imposed across the country last Monday.
However, Varadkar said he had not received any indication that the NPHET was considering Level 5 restrictions.
At the same time, he said that a concerted effort would be needed to oust Covid and that the necessary facilities would be put in place to conduct one lakh tests per day.
Prime Minister Michael Martin’s response was that he had confidence in Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and that he would discuss with the CMO the imposition of appropriate regulations.
At the same time, the CMO said that the Level 5 restrictions were recommended in the context of the continuing Covid expansion.