New Covid-19 restrictions could be introduced earlier than planned under proposals being discussed by cabinet this morning.

NPHET's advice last week suggested closing the hospitality sector, limiting household visits and banning inter-county travel on December 28th.

But that date might be brought forward after a warning from the Chief Medical Officer that the situation is rapidly getting worse.

Ireland is now in a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, public health experts have said, with people being urged to stay at home and stop socialising.

Prof Gerry Killeen, AXA Research Chair in Applied Pathogen Ecology at at University College Cork, who is a member of  the Independent Scientific Advocacy Group, joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing: