Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which Deputy O'Dowd has also raised on a number of occasions. I once again commit to the establishment of an inquiry this year to examine how the pandemic was handled in Ireland. This will not only examine the health aspect and what happened in hospitals, nursing homes and testing centres and with vaccines, but also the wider economic and social management of the pandemic. It will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with the pandemic and will help ensure we are better prepared and in a stronger position should another pandemic or emergency arise. In conjunction with my Department, the Department of Health is examining what other countries have done in this respect. Any review must include the experience in nursing homes. That is only appropriate. We already instigated an independent examination of the management of Covid-19 in nursing homes very early in the pandemic, namely, in May 2020, after the first wave. We will of course consult with other political parties and advocacy groups on the form the inquiry should take. We believe the first step will be a scoping inquiry similar to that carried out in respect of the banking inquiry many years ago. We will be in contact with parties and advocacy groups about that.

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