Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the coronavirus is a fire in retreat and Government is increasingly confident that phase one of easing restrictions can proceed on Monday.
Mr Varadkar said a new funding model to provide better home care for the elderly will have to be put on a statutory footing by the next government.
He said the Government is examining ways to strengthen public health requirements for people entering the country. Mr Varadkar told the Dáil that it is our policy to resume normal travel for business and leisure as soon as it is safe to do so, but it will be months and not weeks before this is possible.
He said Covid-19 has hit our country very hard, but as we reopen we have the opportunity to reshape our society in ways that