Leo Varadkar has said he is not “scaremongering” by telling people the country could face a third clampdown on society and the economy after Christmas.
The Tanáiste said he was “just being honest” with people that tighter Covid restrictions may be reimposed in January and February due to an easing of measures in the month of December.
Mr Varadkar said the government hopes to tell people they can move around the country closer to Christmas but inter-county travel will still be restricted once we move to Level Three next week.
He also moved to clarify comments made at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting last night in which sources told how Mr Varadkar warned that the government was considering advising people not to travel to Northern Ireland over the rise in Covid cases there.
He said this was not being considered at all.
Speaking in the Dáil he said: “There is no question of there being an outright travel ban between North and South.
“It’s not under consideration, it’s not being discussed, period.
“However as we move from Level Five to Level Three which we hope to do next week, inter-county travel will still be restricted and will only be allowed for work, school and essential purposes like caring for an elderly relative.
“So that means inter-county travel including cross Border travel for shopping or visiting friends and relatives will not be allowed.
“We do hope to be in a position to advise people that they can travel between counties including Northern Ireland to visit friends and relatives closer to Christmas but that will depend on the epidemiological data.
“At the moment the rates of Covid are much higher in Northern Ireland than they are here but in two weeks time that might be very different because restrictions are being reimposed there.”
