DUP leader Arlene Foster blasts Tánaiste Leo Varadkar's border comments as 'astounding' and 'regrettable'

The First Minister said: "I have to say I was astounded, not a little surprised, that the Tánaiste was indicating that people from the Republic of Ireland would not be able to travel to see their families in Northern Ireland during the Christmas period.

"One of the reasons why it was important for us to have a four nations approach across the United Kingdom was a recognition that many people living in Great Britain will want to come home and vice-versa.

"People go from Northern Ireland to Great Britain to be with family members and therefore we wanted to give an early indication of what that window was," said the DUP leader.

It had been reported that Mr. Varadkar had told a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party that people could be advised not to travel across the border if the transmission rates in the north remained too high.

But speaking in the Dáil this afternoon he clarified: "It's not under consideration, not being discussed period."

Mrs. Foster addressed the matter at the Northern Ireland Executive press briefing this afternoon.

"I think it is really regrettable that the Tánaiste should make those sorts of comments. It appears that the border has made a reappearance again after Northern Ireland being lectured for four years in the context of the European negotiations that the border was completely open.

"But he has to explain why that is the case. I think it is really regrettable. What we want to see is good cooperation actually and across the whole of the British Isles so that families can be together in an appropriate way over the holiday period," she remarked.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill was equally critical.

"Leo Varadkar has demonstrated again that he is completely out of touch with the reality of life on this island. I think his commentary reflects that. I think we can do more and can be more joined up and it's important that we are.

"We've said that the whole way through the pandemic. We have a Memorandum of Understanding across the island but certainly I would like to see a lot more communication," she said.