An infectious diseases expert has called for a national governance review into Ireland's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Professor Sam McConkey from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland was speaking on RTÉ's Brendan O'Connor programme.
Asked if Ireland did a good job in responding to the Covid-19 crisis, he said: "There needs to be a big national governance review about our decision-making abilities and structures over the past two years.
"Now is the time for reflection, for learning, for some sort of cross party group [to look at that]," he added.
"Our political leaders really need to go back and ask how could we have done better, what did we do well or not do well?"
Prof McConkey said the public health advice about masks remained to wear them in crowded places but it was now guidance rather than mandatory.
Everyone working in healthcare will continue to wear masks, he added. "Nursing homes will also have permanent changes in how they do things."
Prof McConkey welcomed the end of most restrictions and the "move away from authoritarian rules".
He noted: "The number of sick people we are seeing with life-threatening illness due to Covid has really, really decreased.
"The number of people in ICU and hospital [with the disease] are also steadily decreasing."
The Taoiseach yesterday said that the Government will be accepting all advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team to lift almost all remaining Covid-19 measures from 28 February.
Changes will include an end to mandatory mask-wearing and PCR testing for most under-55s.
Micheál Martin said the country is transitioning out of the emergency phase of the pandemic.
The NPHET recommendations were given to Government in a letter from Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan last Thursday.
Meanwhile, five more people with Covid-19 have died in Northern Ireland, the department of health has said.
Another 2,147 confirmed cases of the virus have also been notified in the last 24-hour reporting period.
