Independent TD Mattie McGrath is demanding a full scale COVID-19 inquiry.

The Tipperary TD has strongly criticised the Government's decision to carry out a non-statutory evaluation of the country's response to the pandemic.

Deputy McGrath says independent experts are needed to head an inquiry.

“What we need here is independent experts that have no connections with Ireland,” he said.

“I attended a meeting in government buildings and the mood in the room that day [was] that we couldn't have an inquiry, [because] Ireland is too small.

“We have to learn from our mistakes – I mean the definition of insanity is [to] keep doing the same thing."

Deputy McGrath said people are being let down by the government's appraisal.

He is demanding a full-scale inquiry into the pandemic, which has over 10 thousand deaths linked to the disease since the outbreak, according to the HSE.

The Independent TD said we need to 'pony up' here, and ‘hold people accountable for their mistakes’.