Mr. Dan O'Brien:

The question is what is success in the zero-Covid plan. Let us consider New Zealand. What happens to New Zealand if, a year from now, it is successful and there has not been a single case but the rest of the world has opened up? It will have to continue this policy of effectively sealing itself off from the world. If there is no vaccine, how long will it go on with that? Will it go on for one year, two or three years? It may eventually decide that this is not a sustainable policy and while it has been successful, it is going to have to open up. It will then have to go through what the rest of the world has gone through. I think the chances of success for that sort of policy are very low and that is before taking into account the issue of having two jurisdictions on one island, of which the Deputy is well aware.

To make an observation on the politics in the Northern jurisdiction, there seems to be very little probability of the devolved Government there agreeing to sealing off travel with Britain. It does not seem to me to be achievable politically or otherwise.