Taoiseach says Covid restrictions 'under constant review' but Varadkar insists no change until Jan 30

Earlier today, Leo Varadkar said that the Government are keen to improve their communications with the public and will not be changing or loosening plans announced last week

Micheál Martin said that he did not want to discuss hypotheticals, but said that the restrictions announced last week were constantly reviewed. File photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The Taoiseach says there will be a review of public health restrictions if the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is less severe than feared.

Speaking to journalists today, Micheál Martin said that he did not want to discuss hypotheticals, but said that the restrictions announced last week were constantly reviewed.

"First off, I don't want to get into prospective scenarios. We have said from the outset we'll keep this under constant review throughout the month."

The Taoiseach's comments came shortly after the Tánaiste said current Covid-19 restrictions will not be reviewed before they are due to expire on January 30.

Mr Martin said that the Government was awaiting more data on the variant, but said that public health was the key point in all of the restrictions.

"The key criterion is the general health of the population, protecting public health, [and] protecting lives of people. You're correct in saying that we still need, really, more comprehensive data on the severity of Omicron, and the degree to which the high number of cases will translate into his numbers of admissions into hospitals, into ICUs, and into mortality rates. 

"So that is the key consideration, and obviously we'll be working with other countries - the United Kingdom and others - to really get a handle on that data as soon as we possibly can. And that will inform our approach."

The Taoiseach said that the Government was hoping that both a high uptake of booster vaccines and the public itself reducing socialisation over the coming weeks would mean that Omicron has less of an impact.

"Suffice to say that this year, because of the fact that we have that significant booster vaccine, the fact we have such a high number of the population with primary doses of the vaccine, now large numbers going for the booster, that does give us significant protection. 

"So, we're hopeful that a combination of the vaccines, with the level of the restrictions that reduces the overall level of socialisation, and people themselves making sensible choices, that we can get through Omicron and overcome it."

However, earlier this afternoon Leo Varadkar said the Government is keen to improve communications with the public and will not be changing or loosening plans announced last week.

"The decision that was made is that the current set of restrictions will remain in place until the end of January," he said.

"What we decided as Government in an effort to get our communications right that's it we better not to be speculating about review dates or it possibly being eased sooner or tightened because I think that's unfair on people.

"One thing people always ask for when it comes to the restrictions is they want clarity not uncertainty.

"These restrictions remain in place until the end of January. There are no plans to ease them or relax them in between.

"People at least know where they stand between now and the end of January, but there is always a caveat that of course, things change dramatically for the better or the worse so we can review things."

The Tánaiste also said that schools will close for Christmas as normal, "and in the new year in the very unlikely event of any change people will hear about it from the Minister of Education first, nobody else."

"I think that's important."

Mr Varadkar added that although he believes the pandemic will not end soon, this does not mean constant restrictions.

"The pandemic may well go on for a few more years, that doesn't necessarily mean the restrictions will have to go on for a few more years," he said.

"We will reach a point where through combination vaccine immunity and infection acquired or natural immunity, we'll be able to deal with this virus and the way that we do with all the regular viruses "We just don't know when that points will be and it doesn't appear that is quite close yet.

"If this is going to be a pandemic that evolves, future variants and other difficult winters. I think there is a strong case to give people periods of freedom, to give people an opportunity to experience normal life when it's safe to do something, but only when it's safe to do so, and give those sectors of our economy a chance to prosper again.

Mr Varadkar also noted that he was conscious of the sacrifice that younger people, people in their late teens and their twenties had made over the past two years. 

"They've effectively given up their youth, haven't been able to go to the office and meet people they work with or to attend indoor events, concerts, full stadiums, festivals, nightclubs at all or for a short period and I think young people in Ireland made an extraordinary sacrifice already, largely to help control the virus that is unlikely to make them sick, and we're very grateful for that sacrifice," he said.

"We need to take that into account when it comes to making decisions in the spring and summer. Because losing two years, I think is really difficult and perhaps has impacted on them harder than many people appreciate."