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The cabinet will meet today to discuss Northern Ireland’s move towards a close shutdown and the impact this will have on the Republic.
Border counties are likely to be affected by restrictions in the north, but Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan are also the three counties with the worst Covid rates in the Republic.
NPHET will meet on Thursday, but tonight’s cabinet meeting could make the decision to move certain counties to Level Four if deemed necessary.
Here are the latest comments from the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and the Minister of Health before this cabinet meeting;
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar
Speaking this morning, Tanaiste Leo Vardkar said: “I have not yet heard what the announcement is from Stormont.
Video not available
“Once we know for certain what the Northern Ireland Executive has decided, the Government will respond to that and we will see if we should take similar action or what action we should take in relation to the border counties.
“We do our best to align and cooperate with Northern Ireland to the best of our ability, but as you know the Northern Ireland Executive has not favored an all islands approach or a 32 county approach, but we do our best to coordinate and cooperate as much as we can.
“As your listeners will know, the incidence of the virus in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan in particular is very, very high.
“We will probably have to make a decision sometime today on whether we should respond with greater action in the border counties as well.”
Minister Stephen Donnelly
In response to the Irish Mirror’s question on whether border counties could move to Level Four after tonight’s cabinet meeting, Stephen Donnelly had this to say: “I don’t want to get ahead of anything with regard to levels.
“I am in favor of keeping schools open.
“The information they are giving me is that the schools are safe.”
Donnelly said any decision to move the counties up a notch should be treated “with great sensitivity.”
He added: “Not just in border counties, moving to Level Three comes at a huge cost in terms of social isolation and mental health.
“Transfers at any level are very expensive.
“So I think to be fair to people in any county, whether it’s Wicklow or Donegal or anywhere else, I think these kinds of deliberations are best done with public health officials and then Cabinet.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has kept quiet ahead of Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.
The Fianna Fail leader has said that he has just discussed the Budget for 2021 and the financial implications of Covid-19.
Mr. Martin said in a statement: “The magnitude of the disruption our economy and our people have suffered cannot be overstated.
“Throughout the pandemic, our front-line people in public service and the private sector have been courageous, innovative, and very effective in their response.”
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