The Tánaiste has said an "outbreak team" is working to assess measures at a meat plant in Co Offaly which remains open after three other factories closed following clusters.
Public health authorities have said they hope they can prevent a number of large outbreaks from spreading widely into local communities.
A further 68 cases of coronavirus were confirmed yesterday evening. Two thirds of the cases were in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly, where limited restrictions are in place for two weeks in response to the increased spread of Covid-19.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Leo Vardakar said the power does exist under public health legislation for the Health Service Executive to order Carroll's Cuisine in Tullamore, to close but said