Taoiseach Micheál Martin says Derry restrictions were 'pragmatic' response to his approach to Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill

An Taoiseach said the Executive decision to restrict gatherings, hospitality and sport and cultural venues from October 5 followed an approach he had made to the First and deputy First Minister.

“When we had problems and moved Donegal to level 3, I approached the First Minister, Arlene Foster, and deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill. They responded in their way, pragmatically, in terms of Derry and Strabane,” said the Fianna Fáil leader.

Mr. Martin observed how, a fortnight after the restrictions took effect, the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael McBride and the Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Ian Young were both sanguine about the direction the pandemic was taking in Derry and Strabane.

“Interestingly, I just saw comments from the CMO in Northern Ireland that the measures taken in the Derry and Strabane areas, which were equivalent to level 3, appear to have had an impact in terms of reducing the number of cases, although it is early days.

“That is something that we need to follow in terms of how it might inform us,” said An Taoiseach.

As reported in today’s paper the ‘R’ number in Derry and Strabane has now fallen significantly below 1. Mr. Martin said he would pursue close cooperation with Belfast.

“We will do everything we can to co-operate but there are limitations as well. Representatives in the North had challenges in getting to level 3 last week, even level 3-plus in some of the measures they took,” he said.