Minister for Health Simon Harris has confirmed that facemasks will be mandatory on all public transport.
But the Cabinet did not come up with a firm date, or whether there will be fines or sanctions for not wearing them.
These details will be ironed out in the coming days.
But in the meantime the advice is to make our own masks to save medical grade ones for health workers.
Mr Harris said: “I should point out that this government has only decided in the last hour or two following a recommendation from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, we now intend to move forward under the emergency health regulations to make the wearing of face coverings mandatory on public transport.
“There will obviously by virtue of them being mandatory be sanctions but I’m not yet in a position to detail how some of those issues around enforcement will work.
“My department will take instructions from the Department of Transport on how they see this working and we’ll be engaging with them in the hope that we’ll be in a position to regulate over the next seven to 10 days, that’s what we’re looking at.
“I do hope the message has gone out, and one of our colleagues relayed to us today that a lot more people seem to be even wearing them today, so ultimately we need to be clear… the Government hasn’t given any consideration as of yet to provide face coverings and one point I consistently make is that people shouldn’t wait for a law change to do something in this regard you just need to get yourself a face covering, we’re not talking about a medical facemask, you can make them at home, there’s very good and simple videos online through the Department of Health’s website, just get into the habit then of having it along with your mobile and your keys, your wallet carrying your face covering in your handbag suit jacket or whatever suits you."
Mr Harris added: “I wouldn’t like people to think they need to get a medical grade face mask, we’re talking about something that can cover your nose and your mouth and there’s plenty of details available online about that.
“The issue of supermarkets and face coverings, the rationale behind bringing them in for public transport was a recognition of fact that we are going to need the extra capacity on public transport and once you the increase capacity it would be impossible to keep two metres of social distancing and therefore as a recognition of the additional hygiene measure, additional public health measure needed, the issue of face coverings came to the fore.
“There is very clear public health advice around supermarkets, shops and anywhere you can’t socially distance, you should wear a face covering in those situations.
“We’re responding to a line Department in this area, it remains under review for any other setting.”
