The Sinn Féin Leader, Mary Lou McDonald, said there were lessons to be learnt from the pandemic for the health service and the housing crisis.
She told RTÉ's Six One News that while today was a "very good" day, life was not returning to normal.
Ms McDonald said it is important that there was not a cliff edge end to Government supports and this needed to kept under constant review.
She urged the Government not to dispense with testing, tracing and the ability to respond to outbreaks of the virus or a new variant.
She said it was very important that Covid-19 infrastructure was still "live" so the necessary support was available in the health system.
The Sinn Féin Leader said politics now needs to get back to business and deliver the "kind of change that people deserve".
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Louise O’Reilly, called on the Government toexpedite legislation to deliver a right to request remote working.
"With the changes to the public health restrictions announced this evening it is important that workers’ hard-won gains in relation to remote working are not undone by employers and managers," she said.
Labour Party leader Alan Kelly said on Twitter: "After two tough years the Irish people are coming through this crisis together, stronger.
"Tonight I want to remember those we have lost and pay a special tribute to our health staff who are still working at the frontline. Covid has changed everything and we’ve so much more to do."
Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall said: "The removal of almost all Covid restrictions is a historic moment in our battle against Covid."
She added: "It is also an occasion that is tinged with sadness as we remember all of those we lost, and all of those who endured trauma and suffering, during this dark time.
"We have navigated our way through the maze of this pandemic using public health advice – and that advice has now identified an exit. It may take some time to fully get to the other side, but the end is in sight and the future is bright."
