Covid-19: Swann asks Irish government for cross-border travel meeting

In his letter, Robin Swann says NI and the Republic "are at different junctures" in their fight against Covid-19

Health Minister Robin Swann has asked his Irish counterpart for a meeting to discuss the potential spread of Covid-19 from cross-border travel.

He wrote to Stephen Donnelly on Wednesday to make the request.

The letter states that both governments should be doing "all we can to prevent non-essential cross-border travel", and "clear messaging" and enforcement should be used, if required.

It comes after seven cases of Indian variant were found in Northern Ireland.

• NI and Republic's latest Covid-19 statistics

Mr Swann has called on the Irish government to elicit an "appropriate and proportionate" response to recent transmission data on both sides of the border.

"Our two jurisdictions are at different junctures, in terms of number of cases, the current trajectory of the epidemic, vaccination progress and Covid-19 cases in respective jurisdictions," the letter says.

"In the present circumstances, crossing the border for non-essential shopping or socialising purposes creates an unnecessary risk of virus spread."

It is understood the issue was raised when Stormont ministers met on Thursday to discuss the coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland.

Mr Swann has asked to meet Mr Donnelly, along with other senior departmental officials and health agencies to consider extra measures to control infection rates in border areas.

He said he looked forward to a time when normal cross-border activity could resume, but warned: "We are not there yet."