Health minister puts forward legislation to address 'extraordinary circumstances'

Minister for Health Simon Harris has told the Dáil Èireann Covid-19 is having an immense impact on society.

He said these are unparalleled and extraordinary circumstances.

Introducing legislation to deal with the public health crisis, he said the government's primary objective was to safeguard the lives of citizens and to ensure that they had sufficient financial resources.

He paid tribute to health staff for making massive personal sacrifices and he said their bravery and courage was matched by the generosity of those who were volunteering to be on call for Ireland.

He said political leaders had a responsibility to respond to the pandemic and an important role in responding to the mental health challenges it posed in terms of the individual and national anxiety that he said existed in the country.