The Tánaiste has had a “very good discussion” with the Chief Medical Officer after their public rift earlier this week.
Leo Varadkar was heavily critical of NPHET after the group’s call to move the entire country to Level Five was leaked to the public on Sunday night.
Many members of Government were taken by surprise by the news and, on Monday afternoon, Cabinet decided to reject the advice.
Speaking today, Minister Varadkar said he spoke to the CMO Dr Tony Holohan by phone last night.
He said it is now essential that politicians and health officials work together against the virus.
“I was really unhappy about what happened on Sunday night and the anxiety and the fear that it caused for hundreds of thousands of people,” he said. “I gave voice to that anger and gave voice to that frustration.
“But I also said that NPHET and the Government needed to get back on the same page. I rang Tony Holohan last night and we had a good conversation – we’re on the same team; we always have been.
“What we need is not the Government versus NPHET. It is Ireland versus COVID.”
No apology
The Tánaiste said he didn't apologise for criticising NPHET on Monday night.
“It was a private conversation but I don’t think either of us were in the business of apologising for what happened on Sunday or Monday,” he said.
“We are moving on and, as I said on Monday, we need to be on the same page here. This can’t be NPHET versus the Government, it has to be Ireland against the coronavirus.
“I have worked really closely with Tony, as Minister for Health, as Taoiseach and now as Tánaiste and we have to keep doing that. That is what the people expect, that is what has to happen and we are very much on the same team.”
"Commitment"
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he had a positive conversation with Dr Holohan earlier today.
“I paid tribute to his commitment to the country and the selfless way he has come back to help the country in relation to the pandemic,” he said.
“We both share a determination to get the country through COVID-19 with the help of everybody in this House.”
Dr Holohan is due to give his first public COVID-19 briefing since returning to his post at the Department of Health this evening.
