April 21

• Department of Agriculture approves ViraPro hand sanitiser. Technical specification indicates that it contains 70pc of the alcohol, ethanol, a common standard for hand sanitiser products. Approval awarded to Irish distributor PFG Brand Attraction EU Ltd.

September 25

• Revenue Commissioners notify Department of Agriculture about contact from EU Anti-Fraud office, OLAF, re the import of a hand sanitiser from Turkey to Ireland from the same supplier of a product tested in Denmark , which contained excessive levels of methanol, an extremely hazardous alcohol.
• Arrangements made to test the consignment and a number of other consignments from the same supplier.
• Concerns related to inadequate levels of ethanol, which would render product ineffective, as well as the detection of methanol, the frequent use of which through a hand sanitiser can cause nausea, dermatitis, eye irritation, upper respiratory tract irritation and headaches.

September 30-October 2

• Department of Agriculture officials take samples of batches of product at different storage locations.

October 2

• Samples submitted to the Department's laboratory in Backweston.

October 8

• Preliminary results give sufficient reason to believe that product should not be released onto the market pending further investigation.
• Compliance notices issue to all four warehouses that had product from the identified consignments requiring them to retain all products on site. Six additional samples taken for testing covering all products, irrespective of source, from the company bearing the name ViraPro.

October 9

• The six additional samples submitted for testing to Backweston laboratory. It becomes clear that some of this product was not alcohol-based and therefore had not been approved for use.

October 16

• Results show that the products did not meet the standards for approval, particularly with regard to the presence of methanol.
• Supplier instructed to retain all products in its possession and recall all remaining product under the ViraPro name.

October 20

• ViraPro hand gel removed from Biocides Register. Informal contact with Department of Education Procurement Service on the matter and indication that the certification of a product range was to be revoked. Department of Education says details of issues and public health concerns not made available.

October 21

• Department of Agriculture contacts the HSE with results relating to ViraPro products sampled from earlier consignments owned by the HSE.
• Education Procurement Service seeks update and advised that formal notification would be provided as soon as possible.

October 22

• Evident that supplier has not started the recall.
• Department of Agriculture issues statement outlining the possible risks posed by ViraPro and advising members of the public not to use. Formal notification to Departments of Education, Health and Children.
• Minister for Agriculture informed that evening.
• Department of Education seeks more details through afternoon and into late evening, sends message around 10pm-11pm to school principals advising that ViraPro hand sanitiser should not be used.

October 23

• Some schools forced to close because of reliance on ViraPro.
• Minister for Agriculture tells Dáil that public notice and communications with other Government departments should have been issued on October 16.
• Advice that all ViraPro sanitiser products should be withdrawn from market and not used by public.