Microbiology Society submission to Ireland’s COVID-19 Evaluation

Last year, Ireland’s COVID-19 Evaluation Panel was established to produce an independent report of the Irish Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify lessons learned for future pandemic preparedness. In July 2025, the Microbiology Society responded to the panel’s public call for evidence, drawing on input from a group of our Irish governance members to highlight the vital contributions of microbiologists throughout the pandemic.

Following a request from the panel in March 2026, the Society gathered broader evidence from our members and other microbiologists based in the Republic of Ireland through a survey of their views on, and lessons learned from, the Irish Government’s management of the pandemic. This evidence informed the Society’s submission to the panel, which can now be read in full in our submission.

The Society's submission highlights the invaluable role played by microbiologists in supporting the pandemic response. Microbiologists engaged directly with government and public bodies and assisted in the delivery of key initiatives, including PCR and antigen diagnostic testing, genomic and wastewater surveillance, contact tracing and online teaching. Despite these contributions, survey respondents had mixed views on how effectively microbiology expertise was utilised within the government’s response. Many respondents also experienced significant impacts on their professional development.  

Respondents’ views on the government’s management of the pandemic were mixed but broadly positive. While early infection prevention and control measures were viewed as decisive and effective, concerns were raised about aspects of later decision‑making, which respondents felt were less consistently informed by evidence. The implementation of diagnostics, surveillance and vaccination was generally regarded positively, although gaps were identified in antigen testing and genomic surveillance infrastructure. 

The Society’s submission sets out recommendations to strengthen Ireland’s preparedness for future events, including sustained investment in microbiology research, infrastructure and training and improved integration of specialist and multidisciplinary scientific expertise into policy‑making. You can read the full set of recommendations in our submission: 

The final report of Ireland’s COVID-19 Evaluation is expected to be submitted to the Irish Government by the end of 2026.