In its final report, the committee is sharply critical of delays in the State's response to the spread of Covid-19 in nursing homes.
In recommending a public inquiry to investigate each of the almost 1,000 coronavirus related deaths in nursing homes; TDs claim there are "unanswered questions as to why some nursing homes were free of Covid-19 whereas others were severely impacted through the death of residents and sickness of staff".
The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has consistently defended NPHET's decision not to recommend visitor restrictions on 6 March - however the committee recommends a public inquiry should examine this decision further. Aside from nursing homes, TDs note how 'meat processing plants emerged as a significant hotspot for Covid-19 infections' and that an Oireachtas inquiry should be established to examine the spread of coronavirus in plants.
Well I could have told you that for free, along with every other Irish person of any intelligence... what’s worrying is that they haven’t learned with new outbreaks in nursing homes