IT IS “UNLIKELY” that evidence from the former chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team for Covid-19 (NPHET) Tony Holohan or former health ministers will he heard in public, according to the chairperson of the Covid-19 inquiry, Professor Anne Scott.

Speaking to reporters today in Dublin, Scott said the “evaluation” will take 12-18 months, before a final report is delivered to government with recommendations.

“In my view, at this moment, it is unlikely that that kind of information or evidence gathering will be done in public,” she said. 

A transcript will not be published but the interviews will be recorded.

Prof Scott said that individuals would not be named, before adding “we are not here to point fingers”.

Describing the process as a non-statutory, non-adversarial independent review, she  repeatedly stressed it was not a public inquiry.

The expert panel will produce an “actionable” report of recommendations which will be presented to the Taoiseach and they would “hope” that they will then be actioned by the Government.

Prof Anne Scott, chair of the Covid inquiry, says this evaluation should be ‘grasped with both hands’ pic.twitter.com/M4ljsH9vel

— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) May 22, 2025

She said that is not a public inquiry and it is not the intention of the panel to name individuals or find fault.

Despite concerns being put to her about the evaluation being held behind closed doors, Prof Scott said she believed “people can have trust in the process”.

Reporters were told that interviews with key figures such as those sitting on NPHET during the pandemic, health ministers and the Taoiseach, would likely be held in private and not in a public forum. 

Professor Scott said the evaluation panel’s objectives are to provide a factual account of Ireland’s pandemic response, identifying lessons learned, and recommending future decision-making principles.

Some round-table discussions will be streamed on the inquiry’s website, which will involve stakeholder organisations in discussion with the expert panel.

A special module on nursing homes is planned where it is expected a private session in a will allow those who were bereaved during the pandemic when severe restrictions were in place will be able to recount their experience. 

The public is now being invited to share their “lived experience” of the pandemic with the Covid-19 Evaluation Panel. 

The chairperson launched a nationwide public consultation inviting individuals, families, workers, carers, communities and businesses to share their experiences of the pandemic.

Officially termed the Covid-19 Evaluation Panel, the inquiry will provide an account of the strategy and approach to planning for and handling of the pandemic from 1 January 2020 to 29 February 2022.

Unlike a statutory inquiry, it will not have the power to compel documents or witnesses.

The inquiry will identify lessons learned with regard to health and social care system performance, as well as the wider Government response to managing and mitigating risks.

It will also recommend guiding principles and processes for future decision-making in the context of a rapidly moving threat of the scale and duration of Covid-19.

The inquiry officially began its work at the start of February and will submit its final report to the Taoiseach within 12-18 months.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin recently said he “hopes” the Covid-19 inquiry can be “expedited” so that Ireland can be “better prepared into the future”.

The public consultation is open to all adults and can be accessed online here. 

The panel said the consultation offers an opportunity for people to share how the pandemic response impacted them to inform future learnings. 

Professor Scott, remarked that the public consultation is “the first step in building a clear and honest picture of how Covid-19 was lived and felt throughout Ireland”. 

“Our goal is to produce a thorough, independent assessment of Ireland’s pandemic response, one that reflects real life as well as official records,” she added.

The consultation will run until 1 July.

With reporting by Christina Finn