As Ireland has now removed the majority of public health restrictions after Covid-19 statistics held steady, many people have been questioning whether the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) should disband.
The group played a crucial role in Ireland's battle with the coronavirus, offering advice to the Government based off the data available to them on a near-daily basis.
But their surprise move to signal the reopening of the country last weekend was seen by many as one of their last important updates.
This has led for calls for the group to disband.
But have they any merit?
Here's the latest we know.
Will NPHET disband?
Not yet.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly told RTE: “There’s no detailed plans on that at all, NPHET are doing a very important job,”
When did NPHET last meet?
The group met last week to analyse the latest Covid-19 data available - leading to their recommendation for the lifting of the majority of Covid-19 restrictions.
Why have NPHET not disbanded?
Though we don't have an official answer for that, we can speculate a couple of reasons.
Mainly, because the pandemic is not over yet.
Though Ireland has lifted restrictions, there are still hundreds of people in hospital with the virus.
Furthermore, until the global population is protected, there is a high risk of a new variant or strain emerging.
If NPHET were to disband, there would be a harder time gathering information about any potential new variant and its dangers.
What happens after NPHET disbands?
The members of the group will simply continue with their everyday jobs.
For example, Dr Holohan will remain as Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, Philip Nolan will remain as Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and so on.
