Minister Eamon Ryan has said he believes the facemask mandate in many settings should be lifted immediately

NPHET has been meeting to consider the issue.

Government is expecting health officials to recommend moving to a new phase in the pandemic where rules become advisory rather than legal requirements.

Minister and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says he wants to see a change in the facemask rules:

“My view, which I’m happy to share publicly, is that we should start immediately by removing the requirement for our school children to have to wear masks in school. I think that’s, I think it was put in for good reasons for good public health reasons, but I think they’re also good reasons for the health of our children in a wider context of them not having to wear masks and I hope that can be done straightaway, and I have the same view with regards to retail and public transport.”