Stephen Donnelly: All restrictions on maternity visits should be lifted

Mr Donnelly also said that a comment by the head of Nphet's modelling committee that supermarket-sold antigen tests were "snake oil" was "not helpful"

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: "My own view is that we need visitation to be as broad as possible." Photo: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

There is no reason that all restrictions on maternity visitation and accompaniment shouldn't be lifted, the Health Minister said.

Stephen Donnelly was speaking as protests were due to be held outside maternity hospitals in Dublin against the restrictions, which both the CMO and HSE have said should end. However, individual hospitals are responsible for their own restrictions, leading to what many feel is an inconsistent approach.