Taoiseach says voluntary vaccination will be maintained as 23,909 new Covid cases reported

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Ireland has one of the highest rates of vaccination in the world. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The Taoiseach said he favours a voluntary Covid vaccination policy over mandatory jabs and has warned that the peak of the Omicron wave has yet to hit.

Micheál Martin also said he expects the country to ride out this latest wave without further restrictions but added the 8pm curfew on the hospitality sector will not be reviewed this week.