Tony Holohan and Paul Reid say they will appear before Covid inquiry - but it will happen behind closed doors

Dr Holohan criticized the Government's late 2020 decision to reopen hospitality for Christmas, stating, 'There were more than 1,500 Covid deaths in January 2021.'

Mr Reid expressed support for the Covid inquiry, saying, 'I welcome the establishment of the Covid inquiry. I will be more than happy to attend if requested.'

Despite knowing how to control the spread of the virus, Dr Holohan noted, 'we failed to do so as a country' during crucial decision-making periods.

The Government's 'evaluation' of the pandemic response will be held mostly in private, chaired by Professor Anne Scott and lacking powers of compellability.

Read at Irish Independent