The Tánaiste says NPHET isn't being stood down immediately but will fade away.
Leo Varadkar also says the Government will give a date on lifting the requirement to wear facemasks in some public settings no later than Tuesday.
Leo Varadkar was no stranger to clashes with NPHET over the past two years and admitted today they didn't always see eye to eye.
That said he thanked health officials for their work, which may have come to an end yesterday.
But the Tánaiste said NPHET won't be stood down straight away.
It comes as Dr Tony Holohan put forward a recommendation to wind down NPHET in its current form.
The body also recommended the lifting of most remaining Covid restrictions, according to Leo Varadkar.
The expected date for the lifting of the mask mandate is February 28th
Reporting by Sean Defoe
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