The message from the government to the Irish public over the last 16 months has been one encouraging solidarity and collaboration.
However, there have been numerous occasions where that communiqué has been put to the test by Cabinet members when it comes to advice from NPHET.
The National Public Health Advisory Team is there to offer guidance on the current situation with Covid-19, with the decision on what measures or restrictions to implement ultimately falling to Government.
There have been several moments during the pandemic where the recommendations from NPHET and the country's Chief Medical Officer have been at odds with Government plans.
Dr Tony Holohan and his colleagues have advocated a cautious approach to reopening society, with the Government attempting to reach a happy medium between controlling the virus and reopening businesses.
The most recent example of this is indoor hospitality, with NPHET warning that their modelling predicts that there is "considerable cause for concern" in the coming weeks.
During a Department of Health briefing yesterday, during which 783 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed, Dr Holohan issued a plea to families to not bring kids into pubs and restaurants when indoor hospitality resumes.
Under the Government’s plans to resume indoor dining and drinking, children under the age of 18 can eat indoors once they are with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian.
But last night, Dr Holohan told parents they should continue to eat outdoors as it is “safer to do so”.
Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath attempted to remedy this contrasting messaging today by stating it's up to parents to make up their own minds about whether to bring their children into pubs and restaurants.
He denied there was mixed messaging on the matter and said the Government listened to NPHET’s advice.
Minister McGrath added that the Government has identified a “middle path” and he believes the decision taken by the Government “is the right thing to do.”
There have been several other notable instances where the viewpoints of NPHET and the Government haven't been in harmony.
The debate over indoor hospitality in recent weeks is another example, with Ministers keen to see thousands of businesses open to customers again.
However, Dr Holohan's concern over the Delta variant meant he wanted to see this reopening delayed further.
Christmas was also a pivotal time in the pandemic, with the phased reopening of various sectors of Irish society having a big impact on the situation with Covid-19.
NPHET had warned against the easing of restrictions in December, saying the profile of the virus could change quickly.
They advocated a “stepwise and cautious approach", but most of their recommendations were ignored by Government in favour of a broad lifting of restrictions over the festive period.
This ultimately led to a spike in cases in January, resulting in another national lockdown.
Prior to this, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar publicly blasted Dr Holohan over recommendations on Ireland's second lockdown in October.
NPHET advised for the entire country to be placed under Level 5 restrictions, which Mr Varadkar said “hadn’t been thought through and was made without prior consultation”.
A row subsequently erupted between NPHET and the Government over the decision to move the country to Level 3 restrictions and ignore public health advice.
However, a u-turn happened later that month when a six-week lockdown under level five restrictions was announced.
As a result, Cabinet was criticised by opposition parties for “ongoing contradictory and disorganised media messaging.”
Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath said following the news: “Irish people and businesses cannot continue to be treated with contempt while the Government and NPHET appear to operate with differing agendas.
“It appears one has lost confidence in the other and leaks critical information to the media without due regard to the impact this will have.
“This is unacceptable and illustrates a complete disregard for the public during a pandemic."
While Dr Tony Holohan and NPHET's advice continue to be at odds with the measures ultimately imposed by Government, it seems Ministers have since become less inclined to ignore health officials' advice after the disaster that was the easing of restrictions at Christmas.
