Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that the situation in Northern Ireland, and indeed throughout Europe, is very worrying and concerning. Yesterday the Netherlands closed down before Christmas. Germany has done the same. The positivity rate in Northern Ireland is about 9%. It is not clear that testing there is at the same level as here. The numbers have been worrying for quite some time. There are now significant issues in emergency departments. In a week or ten days this may manifest itself in a shortage of beds. It is important to say that we are in solidarity with the people of Northern Ireland, who are going through a very difficult time right now. There will a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on Friday, which will be held virtually because of the Covid-19 situation. We will work with our colleagues on the Northern Ireland Executive. Any assistance we can offer will always be available.

There has been ongoing contact between clinicians in the two health systems either side of the Border, and my understanding is that the Minister of Health, Robin Swann, will bring proposals to the Executive. I think he has led well throughout this crisis. He has had to deal with a challenging situation. The Northern Ireland Executive is a multi-party Executive like our three-party Government here, and that creates its own challenges.

This also illustrates the exponential growth of this virus once it gets to a certain critical level. We in the Republic need to take note of what is happening in the North in how we behave as individuals and collectively. We should wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor situations. Social distancing, washing our hands and proper etiquette are still as important as ever. From next Friday people will be allowed to go home. People will want to meet their grandparents and parents. To enable people to do so safely, all our behaviour from now on matters. Every contact matters. Once the virus gets to a certain level, it transmits very quickly thereafter and grows exponentially. We have a strong testing capacity; nonetheless we must be very vigilant now because what we are witnessing in Northern Ireland could happen here if we allow things to get out of control, which we will not do. We have had a period of severe restrictions for six weeks. At the Council of the European Union meeting last week I met prime minister after prime minister who told me his or her country was shutting down and bringing in more restrictions, while I was saying we had partially reopened because of that six-week restriction.

I take on board very seriously what Deputy Kelly has said. It is a matter of grave concern. The Border counties in particular are a worry for us. The numbers are higher in our Border counties than in the rest of the country. We are considering how we can provide greater supports and protection and whatever measures we have to take in the Border counties.

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