COVID19: 'NI numbers are very worrying' Taoiseach
Last updated 17th Dec 2020
The Taoiseach has spelled out his concerns about Northern Ireland's rising covid case figures.
Micheal Martin warned a similar picture could happen in the Republic "if we allow things to get out of control''.
He branded the number of coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland "very worrying and concerning''.
He said the positivity rate in Northern Ireland was about 9%.
Mr Martin told the Dail that Government officials will meet with the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) weekly to keep an eye on Northern Ireland's Covid-19 figures.
On Wednesday, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland reported another 510 new cases of the virus.
Mr Martin said: "It is not clear that testing there is at the same level as here. The numbers have been worrying for quite some time.
"There will be a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on Friday, which will be held virtually because of the Covid-19 situation. We will work with our colleagues on the Northern Ireland Executive. Any assistance we can offer will always be available.
"There has been ongoing contact between clinicians in the two health systems either side of the border, and my understanding is that the Minister of Health, Robin Swann, will bring proposals to the Executive. He has led well throughout this crisis. He has had to deal with a challenging situation.
"We have a strong testing capacity, nonetheless we must be very vigilant now because what we are witnessing in Northern Ireland could happen here if we allow things to get out of control, which we will not do.
"The border counties in particular are a worry for us.''