Politics

‘Unpredictable events’ derailed delivery of Covid inquiry, Leo Varadkar says

Taoiseach pledges that Ireland’s inquiry into the pandemic will ‘certainly’ be held next year

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: “We have committed to consulting with the opposition before bringing the terms of reference to Cabinet and just with so many unpredicted events happening in the last couple of weeks, we haven’t been able to schedule that at a time that works for everyone.” Picture: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie

Leo Varadkar has said Ireland’s Covid inquiry will “certainly” be held next year after being delayed this year due to a series of “unpredictable events”.

A review of how Ireland handled the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to analyse the government’s response, how hospitals and nursing homes coped and the effect it had on society and the economy.

In June, the Taoiseach said that he hoped to begin the inquiry this year, but that time was needed to get the terms of reference right so it does not stray into “all sorts of things” as had happened in the UK.