Micheál Martin has condemned as “sinister and ugly” the sectarian threats at ports in Northern Ireland this morning.
The Taoiseach said: “It is very concerning indeed and I would condemn the intimidatory tactics.”
Mr Martin has also told reporters this morning the return of special needs children to school next week is the beginning of “a gradual return to school” for everybody else.
Customs checks at the borders have had to be suspended today because of loyalist threats against workers and politicians in recent days - including Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
Mr Martin was speaking on his way into a Cabinet meeting in Government Buildings.
He said: “It is very concerning news indeed and I would condemn the intimidatory tactics against workers who should be facilitated in going about their daily business.
“It is very sinister and ugly and we will be doing everything we can to diffuse the situation.”
Mr Martin also gave his take on the latest developments in relation to schools, which sees special needs education resume next week as a first step to an overall return in March.
He said: “It’s good news and I think the children with special needs do need structured special provision and I think the partners in education have worked well with Ministers Foley and Madigan to bring about this situation before the midterm and after the midterm.
“And after we get the numbers down we can see a gradual return to school and I welcome the move for special needs children.
“Overall I think from a societal point of view I think it’s important that we keep the numbers down, in particular that we get hospital numbers down to very low levels, and that we get intensive care numbers down to very low levels.
“And the frontline workers need a break.”
