Coronavirus: Taoiseach says nine more weeks of restrictions

Micheál Martin said the "severe" Level Five lockdown restrictions could remain in place for another nine weeks

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin has indicated that the highest level of restrictions could remain in place until the end of April

Next week, the Irish government is expected to update its Living with Covid plan.

But it seems almost certain very little will change apart from a phased return to school and construction.

Mr Martin said the "severe" Level 5 lockdown restrictions could remain in place for another nine weeks.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror, he also suggested that pubs, restaurants and hairdressers may remain closed even after that.

Mr Martin later told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that "nothing is set in stone".

Later on Friday, it emerged that three cases of a new variant of Covid-19, first identified in Brazil, have been detected in the Republic of Ireland.

All three cases are directly associated with recent travel to Brazil.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that those travelling from Brazil or any of the other 19 countries - that were recently designated as "Category 2"- are required by law to quarantine at home for 14 days.

Education 'could reopen on phased basis'

Earlier, Mr Martin told RTÉ that there would be no large scale reopening of the construction industry and that reopening would depend on the progression of the disease.

He added that there are a range of restrictions and it does not mean none will be lifted between now and May, saying it was "open to review".

It comes as Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that schools, childcare and early childhood education programmes would reopen next month on a phased basis.

He told RTÉ's News at One, that the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) advised the government on Thursday that schools and childcare could reopen in March and after the Easter break.

Mr Varadkar also said it remains "too risky" for construction to reopen.

• Ireland's Covid-19 lockdown 'could extend to May'

• Mandatory hotel quarantine set for Ireland

Mr Martin's coalition government was roundly criticised for easing its last lockdown too early so that people could have in his words "a meaningful Christmas".

His comments come at a time when Irish health officials are expressing concern that the fall in new Covid-19 cases is slowing down.

Hotel quarantining introduced

They had hoped that the figures would be lower than they are and are blaming the more transmissible UK variant of the virus for that.

There have been a total of 4,109 coronavirus-related deaths in the Republic of Ireland, according to the latest figures released on Friday, with 28 additional deaths reported.

Officials say that 90% of all cases in the Republic of Ireland are now associated with the variant first discovered in Kent.

The Republic's government says the long-term suppression of the virus is now its aim.

Travellers to the Republic of Ireland from coronavirus hotspots will have to quarantine in hotels under new legislation

That means a continuation of the lockdown restrictions with some modifications.

It also plans to introduce mandatory hotel quarantining for all those coming from 20 countries including Brazil, Austria and 18 mainly sub-Saharan African countries.

In early January, 11 cases of the South African variant found and were quickly brought under control.

On Thursday night, public health officials said the current R number - the rate at which the virus reproduces - is between 0.65 and 0.85.

In his newspaper interview, Mr Martin offered some hope saying the vaccine "was the light at the end of the tunnel" and "will enable a better quality of life".

He said the government is looking at 1.2 million vaccine doses a month by April, May and June, with the majority of the population vaccinated by September.

Tributes to Dr Emer Holohan

On Friday, following a request from Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE), the Irish Air Corps delivered the first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines to the Aran Islands in Co Galway and the Arranmore Island in Co Donegal.

Three shipments of the Moderna vaccine were handed to GP's and will be administered to the island's residents.

Meanwhile, on Friday, it was also announced that Dr Emer Holohan, the wife of Ireland's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, had died following a long illness.

Micheál Martin paid tribute to Dr Holohan, saying she had "made a significant contribution to the health service, including her work on the health strategy when I was minister for health".

Northern Ireland's Health Minister Robin Swann also paid tribute, saying: "This is tragic news this evening and I want to send my deepest sympathies to Dr Holohan, his children Clodagh and Ronan, and the entire family circle at this terrible time."