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The government is considering advising people not to cross the border in the coming weeks, as Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the north.
As the Irish Times reports, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar spoke at a parliamentary meeting tonight in which he expressed concern about the prevalence of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.
Sources say he told TDs and senators that travelers across the border may not be warned whenever possible.
Several senior Fine Gael TDs have also asked Varadkar to push for the reopening of pubs and implement a reservation system for customers when Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions are eased starting next week.
Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan, John Paul Phelan and Joe Carey made the call at a party parliamentary meeting tonight.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told the meeting that it is inevitable that cases will increase after restrictions are lifted in December, although he also told the meeting that 2021 was a year to wait because people could enjoy the personal freedoms for which they could have taken. granted in advance.
Varadkar said that the Level 3 restrictions to be announced later in the week will resemble those in effect during the summer.
He said that “the way to infantilize people is not to tell them the truth,” adding that the virus spreads when people meet.
Reservation system
Meanwhile, O’Donovan called for a pub reservation system to be put in place and that groups only receive one session per night. On this basis, he said, pubs should be allowed to reopen.
Mr Phelan argued that all hospitality facilities, be they bars, hotels or restaurants, should be able to reopen on the same basis with the same Covid-19 regulations to be fair to all businesses, it is understood.
On the other hand, it is also understood that Mr. Varadkar said at the meeting that the Report of the Commission on Homes for Mothers and Babies will be published at Christmas.
Earlier today, Varadkar said that the government is likely to allow people to visit the homes of their friends and family for a period of two weeks, around Christmas next month.
Leo Varadkar said the government hoped to introduce a similar measure in Northern Ireland to allow home visits “for just over two weeks” in the Republic.
In the north, up to three households will be able to meet between December 23 and 27 as part of a UK-wide deal.
Speaking Wednesday at an event on the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin asking people to support local businesses, Mr Varadkar said: “The aim of the Government is to have a family dinner, on Christmas day, as normal as possible. .
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