The Finance Minister says the government is choosing a cautious lockdown exit strategy to try to avoid a second wave of Covid-19.
1,339 people have now died here from the virus, while the number of confirmed cases is just under 22,000.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, which has had a low number of cases, noted that many Irish workers aren’t returning to work until July.
But Paschal Donohoe is defending the strategy.
"I think we need to be pretty careful about deciding when we are being successful.
"The plan that has been agreed by government to my mind gives us the best balance between the imperative of the public health of our country, and reopening our economy."
