Dublin should have just been put at either level two or three of coronavirus restrictions rather than simply adding extra measures for the capital, a Labour TD has said.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin says the unique approach for Dublin "isn't clean, isn't neat and doesn't help".
The Government yesterday unveiled its five-level, six-month coronavirus plan, which details what restrictions will be in place for the country or individual counties depending on COVID-19 levels.
As of today, the entire country - including the capital - is on the second lowest level of restrictions.
However, extra restrictions are in place for Dublin - including further limits on social gatherings and people being 'encouraged' to not leave the county.
Deputy Ó Ríordáin told Newstalk Breakfast his party was hoping to support the plan, as many people are scared about the current situation.
He observed: "Yesterday was a day I was hoping was going to bring a lot of clarity, particularly to Dublin.
"[But] almost a third of the population were left asking themselves questions after the grand announcement about the various different steps and levels."
Dublin restrictions
Deputy Ó Ríordáin suggested the main five-level plan itself is coherent and makes sense.
However, he argued: "When you take the capital city out of it... 1.4 million people... and say you’re between level two and level three, that is a confused message. There was confusion between different ministers as to the travelling outside Dublin and the attendance at sporting matches.
"It would have made much more sense if they had decided to keep Dublin at [level] two or indeed just to announce Dublin at [level] three - all of us would have gotten behind that."
The Labour TD said coming out with a national plan but adding an 'ish' to aspects of it doesn't help anybody.
He observed: "I would have thought it would make much more sense to go with a level two or a level three for Dublin and explain the rationale for what that is.
"To come out and say 'you're at level two but here's a number of added restrictions' means they then had to explain the added restrictions.
"It isn't clean, it isn't neat and it doesn't help."
