Taoiseach announces move to 'Phase 2 plus' of Covid-19 roadmap - 'Summer is not lost'

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that it is safe to move to phase 2 of easing Covid-19 restrictions from Monday.

The Government has confirmed that Ireland will proceed to Phase 2 of the road map for reopening the economy, with a suite of additional measures added in.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that this would be a "Phase 2 plus" and confirmed that there would be four phases instead of five, with Ireland's economy nearly fully open by July 20. Mr Varadkar said that people should "stay local" rather than "stay home".