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There is a “strong” and “very real” possibility that Dublin will move to level three in the government’s plans to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said.
The Government published details of the country’s new medium-term plan to live with the coronavirus on Tuesday. Under the plan, the state, including Dublin, has been set at level two (out of five) while additional restrictions have been placed on the capital.
Opposition parties had criticized the “tailored” measures for Dublin, including forcing wet bars to remain closed, announced under the roadmap on Tuesday.
Donohoe told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that all the measures had to do with containing the virus and until Covid-19 cases were reduced in Dublin, the advice remained that people in the capital should not travel outside the city. city or county.
At all times the government will be guided by the advice of medical experts, he said. The National Public Health Emergency Team will provide further advice to the Government on Thursday, after which there was “a very real possibility” that Dublin would move to level three.
All decisions will be made with the goal of saving lives, Donohoe added.
When asked about a case brought by Labor Party TD Duncan Smith about a couple from his constituency (Fingal) who would be having their wedding outside Dublin shortly, Donohoe said he would urge them to reconsider and not leave Dublin.
The minister also said that anyone from Dublin who is considering a stay elsewhere in the country should reschedule and expects accommodation providers to be flexible regarding deposits.
Donohoe also defended Ceann Comhairle’s decision to stop Dáil’s proceedings on Tuesday when Health Minister Stephen Donnelly underwent a Covid-19 test. The Dáil was a workplace and was subject to the same guidelines as the public, he said. What had happened had been “totally understandable,” he said, but admitted that a temporary postponement might have been more appropriate.
Earlier in Morning Ireland, Mr Smith, Labor spokesman on Climate Action, Communications Networks and Transport, had said that the Government should have clearly placed Dublin at level two or level three on Tuesday.
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