There will be no easing of Level 5 restrictions at the end of this month, the Taoiseach has confirmed, suggesting the current measures will be in place for at least another four weeks.
Micheál Martin also said there are no plans to "seal the island" or "seal the border" between north and south in response to increased calls for tougher measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
He said Cabinet will consider plans to introduce mandatory quarantining for passengers arriving in to the State who do not have a valid PCR test showing they are Covid negative.
However, Mr Martin said there are "complications" around a wider policy of mandatory quarantine, because of our relationship with the UK, the border with the North, and the fact that we are