Ireland will remain in lockdown until at least March.
The Taoiseach was blunt in his assessment of the ongoing situation this evening.
Micheál Martin confirmed again that we are not getting out of lockdown after a Cabinet review next week.
But then he dampened all hopes of some relief in mid-February, which some Government figures had hinted at midweek, when he said the next review would not be for another four weeks.
He said people “could take it” the Government “will take stock every four weeks.”
The current lockdown is provisionally due to finish on January 31st, so the next review would be scheduled for four weeks down the line from that, February 28th.
So by the Taoiseach’s own reckoning, the earliest we could now exit Level Five lockdown in any meaningful way would be the next day after that, March 1st.
Mr Martin said there is still hope schools, and especially special education could reopen soon, and there is hope that more construction projects could resume next month.
He was speaking to reporters after a virtual European Council meeting with fellow EU leaders this afternoon.
He said: “Certainly, there is no talk at the moment in terms of any relaxation or reversing of restrictions at the end of this month.
“We are looking at a continuation of restrictions into February.
“I think you can take it that we’ll take stock every four weeks of the situation.”
The Taoiseach also talked of a possible two-State solution, UK and Ireland, to travel restrictions and quarantines.
He said the strategy is “one that could be pursued” while adding that is still at a very “exploratory” and “embryonic” stage.
