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Leo Varadkar has told members of his party that people may be advised not to cross the border after the lockdown ends next week.
Speaking at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday, Varadkar said that traveling to Northern Ireland may be discouraged for a period due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Tanáiste said the government needed to “be frank” with the advice they gave the public, as the Level Five blockade is scheduled to be lifted next week.
But some Fine Gael TDs pushed again for the reopening of wet pubs.
(Image: Crispin Rodwell / The Irish Times / PA Wire)
A party source said: “He was very blunt and said that we cannot treat people like children.
“And we had to be frank with the advice given that when we open up, the reality is that we will see an increase in infections again.
“The Tanaiste stressed that there was no easy solution and people might think that because there is a vaccine in the way that we can take more risks, that is not the case.
“But many TDs and some ministers pushed for the reopening of pubs.”
It is understood that Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan, John Paul Phelan TD and Joe Carey TD called for measures to be put in place to get publicans to reopen their doors.
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Varadkar said the government is still consulting on what to do with the hospitality sector.
The Tanáiste also said that the government is considering advising people not to travel north as part of its plans.
While Minister O’Donovan asked for clarity on churches and religious services.
Some DTs raised the issue that clarity was needed for clergy staff on what they can do if large families or groups show up.
The party also heard how risky it could be to relax restrictions when people gather.
A TD is understood to have told how he knows of a case where 20 people attended a wedding recently and 16 tested positive in the week or two afterward.
Meanwhile, sources said that Varadkar said it would be the second quarter of 2021 before the Covid vaccine is released to the population.
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