On Thursday, our Political Correspondent, Ciara Phelan, sat down with Taoiseach Micheal Martin for an exclusive interview.
During their discussion, Mr Martin said “severe” lockdown restrictions will remain in place for at least another nine weeks - until the end of April.
He also indicated that pubs and restaurants - and personal services such as hairdressers - may stay closed well beyond this date.
He said there will not be a full return to the construction sector by March 5, despite it being mooted by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.
Children returning to schools on a phased basis beginning with junior and senior infants and Leaving Cert students is the priority.
However, he said there is light ahead for people with monthly vaccines doses of 1.2 million expected and said: “It is going to be challenging for people, it’s been a long lockdown already and I would say to people it’s worth it...”
Speaking in government buildings on Thursday, Mr Martin said when the government reveals it’s revised Living with Covid Plan next week, there will be very little changes on March 5.
The Taoiseach said emerging out of this lockdown will not be the same as reopening up after the previous lockdowns.
This is due to a number of factors including a “highly transmissible and more dangerous” variant of the virus and the vaccine roll-out, he said.
He added that there there will be additional supports given to the hospitality and tourism industries once we “move out of Covid-19”.
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