Exiting lockdown as soon as possible should be one of Ireland's top priorities, according to an expert in immunology.
Today sees a slight easing of restrictions, including the exercise limit being extended from 2km to 5km.
However, most coronavirus restrictions remain in place for another two weeks - with the phased easing of restrictions then set to take place over the next three months.
Paul Moynagh, Professor of Immunology at NUI Maynooth, told Newstalk Breakfast the roadmap on easing restrictions offered welcome clarity - but suggested he hasn't detected much urgency in terms of getting Ireland out of lockdown.
Prof Moynagh explained that recent international mathematical studies have indicated that "the rate of increasing infections was more or less the same… irrespective of whether lockdown was applied or not".
He said: “Most of the benefits we’re seeing are probably due to measures such as social distancing.
“[A recent study in the Science journal], looking back at the outbreaks in Shanghai and Wuhan… found social distancing probably would have been sufficient to actually control the virus."
For Prof Moynagh, the strict measures implemented in Ireland in March and April were 'absolutely justified'.
He said the virus risked getting out of control, and therefore officials had to 'throw everything at it'.
However, he observed: "I would ask now [whether] its continuation is justified, based on the consequences of lockdown - not just economic… but there’s also health arguments, in terms of non-COVID healthcare, mental health issues and major societal effects coming down the road.
“In terms of lockdown, I think it was needed… but when I look at the roadmap - which was really welcome in terms of providing clarity - I don’t get a sense of urgency in terms of exiting lockdown.
"I think that should be one of our top priorities - exit as soon as possible."
Prof Moynagh acknowledged it's a difficult conversation to have, and that nobody wants to see an exit form lockdown that's done in an unsafe way.
He also said ensuring adequate testing and contact tracing measures are in place will be a prerequisite for the easing of restrictions.
He argued: “If you look at [testing] numbers, we’re doing very well - top ten, I’d say, per capita in the world in terms of testing. But it hasn’t been effective - the reason it hasn’t been effective is that it hasn’t been fast enough.
“If a test goes beyond two days… the effectiveness in terms of limiting transmission of the virus is completely lost.
“We need to get very serious about this, and absolutely our aspiration should be to try and get testing in 24 hours… and link that to very effective [contact] tracing. That would really be the support needed to exit lockdown."
