It wasn't necessary for Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to 'attack' NPHET in public, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.
Deputy McDonald described the Fine Gael leader's comments on TV last night as "over the top".
However, she also said she believes the country was "not ready" for a move to level five restrictions.
The Government last night rejected NPHET's recommendation to move to level five coronavirus restrictions, instead deciding to move the entire country to level three.
Following Taoiseach Micheál Martin's announcement, Mr Varadkar appeared on RTÉ to answer questions about the decision.
He suggested that NPHET's recommendation hadn't been 'thought through properly'.
Mr Varadkar said their proposal came out of the blue, and that the wider impact of the move hadn't been considered.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Deputy McDonald criticised the Tánaiste's comments.
She said: "When NPHET say they're have a concern about health, they're bang on the money... for the Government to answer that back is wrong. Very, very wrong and dangerous, in my view.
"The Tánaiste berated NPHET in a very public way, and I think in a way that was over the top.
"For me this is more evidence of the fact that we have a chaotic Government, and we have a Government that seems incapable of operating in an appropriate fashion."
The Sinn Féin leader said NPHET has managed to bring the public along during the pandemic "even when the medicine was tough".
However, she suggested things have now become "disrupted".
She said: "I think we need to fix that.
"I don't think that it is necessary or helpful for senior members of Government - for the Tánaiste or anybody else - to come out and almost gratuitously attack NPHET."
'Country wasn't ready for level five'
Deputy McDonald said she does believe the country wasn't ready for a move to level five - restrictions which would be close to the lockdown implemented earlier this year.
She said such a move would be have been "absolutely catastrophic", as supports such as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment have been cut by Government.
She said: "I don't think the country was prepared or ready for a move to level five.
"Government, quite rightly, has to govern... NPHET advises, and the Government governs."
However, she criticised the Government for 'contradicting' NPHET when it came to the issue of hospital capacity.
She said NPHET made their recommendation in good faith, and they're "correctly concerned" about capacity.
She said Ireland started the pandemic with a health service that wasn't fit for purpose, and we're now heading into the traditionally busy winter season.
As part of the move to level three, the Government has also confirmed plans to increase enforcement of the public health rules.
Deputy McDonald said gardaí should intervene in a way that is "proportionate", although suggested the force has sufficient powers already.
