Eamon Ryan says he was "frightened" when hearing about the new Covid-19 variant which threatens to lock down the world.
Omicron, named by the WHO on Friday as a "variant of concern", has caused serious damage in South Africa.
The first case of the new variant, believed to be stronger than the Delta strain, was recorded in Europe in Belgium having arrived there via a passenger from Egypt.
The European Commission has recommended a travel ban to and from countries where the new variant of Covid-19 has been detected.
Concerns were first raised about the B.1.1.529 variant by officials in South Africa on Tuesday.
Upon hearing the shocking news yesterday, the Green Party leader said it was "a blow."
He told The Anton Savage Show: “I'll be honest, I was frightened yesterday, it was a blow, I was thinking if we get these boosters out in the next few weeks we'll be in better shape, and we will...and the prospect you'll have something that will work around the vaccine, let's be honest it was the most disheartening thing since the start of this thing”
In the meantime, for Irish citizens stuck in South Africa (which includes the Munster rugby team), Mr Ryan said there would be an effort made to organise repatriation flights.
He told the show: “We are looking at it, an Irish citizen has to be able to come home, there is very limited flights from any airline...we've experience in the past, we've done it during this covid pandemic where we arrange flights to try bring people home…and that's one of the things we're looking.
