Taoiseach to raise spike in deaths with Chief Medical Officer

 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: 'There has been a significant increase in excess deaths this winter.'

The Taoiseach is to seek advice from the Chief Medical Officer over "concerns" around a spike in the number of deaths in recent weeks.

Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil an increase in the number of excess deaths "probably relates" to the fact that RSV, influenza, and Covid are all circulating at the moment, but he will be asking CMO Professor Breda Smyth to examine the issue.