'We'll be vaccinating this side of New Year' - Donnelly offers hope ahead of lockdown talks

Mr Donnelly said it was good news that the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine had been authorised by the EMA ahead of time. Plans would be in place from today to get the vaccine into the country. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that public health doctors and infectious disease doctors were deeply concerned at how quickly the virus had been spreading in recent weeks and about the new variant of the disease identified in the UK.

Speaking on his way into the Cabinet meeting he said the Chief Medical Officer had recommended a return to Level 5 restrictions and “that’s what will be considered” by the Cabinet.