Health Minister: Delta variant is a significant problem

The Health Minister says the Delta variant of Covid-19 is a "significant problem".

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is suggesting the next stage of lifting restrictions could be delayed over concerns about the more transmissible strain of the virus. 

The variant, first detected in India, now accounts for around one in five new Covid-19 cases being reported here. 

Minister Stephen Donnelly says it's too soon to say if the easing of restrictions on July 5th will go ahead.

"What we need to do is we need to hear from NPHET and we need to hear the public health advice next week.

"We have an approach in place, and it's the same approach we've used each time we've had an opening up.

"Last month the public health advice was that Ireland was actually doing better than expected, so we were able to open up quicker."