Cabinet proposals:

Close hospitality and hairdressers after Dec 24
Ban inter-county travel (other than return to main residence), and winding down of household visits, from Dec 27
Ban GB travel until Dec 31
Allow non-essential retail stay open

@VirginMediaNews

I understand that ministers are now effectively acting as if the GB variant of the coronavirus is already present in Ireland - estimates that 30,000 people have travelled to Ireland from Britain in the last fortnight, and this may partly explain acceleration in cases since then

Cabinet is also looking at a financial aid package for hospitality - very mindful that tens of thousands will be laid off on Christmas Eve as a result of sector’s closure

One point from this evening’s meeting: if new strain is and becomes prevalent, the level of measures needed to contain it is even more acute.

An R number above 1.0 means virus is spreading. UK’s NERVTAG advisors think new strain has a higher R value, potentially up to 0.9