Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said the Government will not seal the border with Northern Ireland in order to pursue a "zero Covid" strategy.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Minister Donnelly said he is not "dismissive" of exploring this strategy but he said the Stormont Executive and the UK government have ruled out any checks between Britain and Northern Ireland. "So that is a huge problem, and we are not going to seal the border, that has never been on the table".
He said he believes everyone on the island of Ireland are Irish citizens and should be allowed to move freely around the island. "I am not standing over stopping Irish citizens or anyone from moving around this island", he said.