Dr. Tony Holohan:

That will ultimately be a matter for consideration by the Minister. What I can say is that we still have work to do. We have a further meeting of NPHET to consider the ongoing need for the restrictions still in place, including in regard to schools and mask wearing, under the regulations.

We indicated we would give consideration to that and give further advice through the Minister.

What might happen beyond that is something the Minister and the Department will give consideration to. I can say we will still need advice. We will need advice that is multidisciplinary in nature and that is capable of informing the decisions Government ultimately must take. They are difficult and balanced decisions that must, in the first instance, reflect public health considerations, which has been our role, and then all the other considerations the Government must have on measures that either have been advised upon in the past or might need to be advised upon in the future. We will not be able to obviate the need, if we end up in a situation, for example, with a further variant that causes the kinds of concerns we have seen with variants in the past where good-quality, rapid, multi-professional advice focused on managing that public health issue and any resultant impacts-----