There are no finalised plans to "wind down" the National Public Health Emergency Team, the Oireachtas Health Committee has heard.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan told the Committee there would still be a need for an advisory panel going forward.
Dr Holohan today answered questions from TDs and senators, nearly two weeks after NPHET gave the green light for the easing of almost all legal restrictions.
Only a small number of legal measures remain in place, including the need for mask-wearing in shops and on public transport.
The CMO said the lifespan of NPHET is ultimately the Health Minister's decision.
He said: “We still have work to do.
"We have a further meeting of NPHET to give consideration to the ongoing need for the restrictions that are still in place - as they relate to schools and to mask-wearing - through the regulations.
"We indicated we would give consideration to that and give further advice to the minister.
“What happens beyond that is something I think the minister and department will give consideration to.”
He said there will still be a need for multi-disciplinary advice to help inform the ‘difficult decisions’ Government will need to take in the future.
Dr Holohan has also said the National Immunisation Advisory Committee has been asked to consider the future of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
The Chief Medical Officer suggested it may be the case that annual boosters are offered to the medically vulnerable only.
He stressed that was only one of the possibilities, and he wasn’t anticipating what advice NIAC would give.
However, he said it “may well be” that future vaccination efforts would be focused on people with particular vulnerabilities rather than the entire population.
Earlier, Dr Holohan told the committee the pandemic is not over and there will be an 'ongoing need' for some public health measures.
However, he said the current situation is 'broadly positive' and that it is safe for people to return to normal activities
It comes as more than 12,000 new COVID-19 cases - a mix of PCR-confirmed tests and positive antigen test results reported to the HSE - were reported today.
