HSE chief executive Paul Reid has been photographed not wearing a face covering at an event held in the Aviva stadium last month.
The picture is understood to have been taken in the FAI’s presidential suite during the Ireland v Portugal fixture on November 11th.
In an image published in the Sunday Times, Mr Reid is seen standing behind retired footballer Johnny Giles and Joseph O’Brien, an FAI board member, who were posing for a photo.
In a statement, the HSE said Mr Reid wore a mask throughout the match and also while indoors at the event.
“However, he would have removed it when sitting at a table if eating or having a drink, and believes these photos may have been taken after he stood up to talk to someone who approached him,” the statement said. “He is a very conscientious observer of mask wearing rules and etiquette.”
The FAI said all guidelines had been followed. “The FAI complied with all Government guidelines around indoor catering in operation at the time of the Portugal game at the Aviva Stadium. As per those guidelines, all those present at the dinner event you refer to were fully vaccinated against Covid-19.”