NPHET has postponed a key meeting on whether or not the Government can ease restrictions next month.
Also, the European Commission has decided not to introduce a vaccine export ban on any country.
That's after a row about stockpiling.
NPHET’s meeting to consider easing restrictions in April has been moved from tomorrow to Monday. So on Monday:
👨⚕️ NPHET meets in morning
🏢 Cabinet sub-committee meetsTuesday:
📈 Full cabinet meeting considers the data
💬 Taoiseach addresses the nation with decision— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) March 24, 2021
NPHET Wants More Data
NPHET wants more time to see whether there's a consistent trend of rising cases.
Members will assess all the data available.
So a meeting planned for tomorrow on easing restrictions in April has been put off until Monday.
Public Health Officials will then advise the Government, ahead of a cabinet decision on Tuesday.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says they haven't decided whether the limited easing of Level 5 that was planned can go ahead.
"No decision has been made in relation to the post-April 5th situation."
He re-iterated: "No decision."
EU adding some more conditions to vaccine exports - but not going as far as to ban them. Instead they will consider how many people the country looking for exports has already vaccinated - and whether they've played ball in also granting exports into the EU https://t.co/nAQRLUoQnD
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) March 24, 2021
EU Decides Against Banning Vaccine Exports
Separately the EU has decided not to blanket ban vaccine exports to certain countries.
However it's going to assess on a case by case basis when it receives export requests.
So checking the available supply to a country looking for exports.
Also, whether they've played ball with the EU on supply will be taken into account.
EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis did pointedly reference the UK during the press conference on the issue.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said export bans could lead to a slowing in the pace of production of the vaccines.
