An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD has paid tribute to the collective effort across the country in adhering to the Level 5 restrictions currently in place.
Now that we have reached the mid-point of the enhanced Level 5 restrictions, I would like to pay tribute to the great national effort that is underway to suppress the virus and bring down the rate of infection across all communities.
The data that we are seeing suggests that the effort is working, and that we are one of the leaders in Europe in terms of our progress in pushing back the virus. However, we cannot take anything for granted and we must continue to adhere to the restrictions for the next three weeks.
We must see this through. By continuing to drive down the incidence of the disease, we give ourselves the best chance to reopen parts of our society and to enjoy a meaningful Christmas. “The fact that we have been able to make progress at Level 5, while also keeping our schools and construction open, is testament to the tremendous efforts of the individuals involved in those sectors and the sacrifice and discipline of everyone else.
Our frontline workers continue to be an inspiration in terms of their courage and commitment.
“I would like to pay particular tribute to our young people for the successful suppression of the virus among their age groups. They are missing out on a lot, but their time will come and they should take great pride in the effort they are making to protect the more vulnerable in our society.
I am acutely conscious of how difficult the current restrictions are for everyone, and the very heavy price being paid by many sectors of our economy. However, I also know that the effort we are making now, together as a nation, is saving lives and will allow us to reopen our society and our economy safely and sustainably into the future.