IRELAND’S MINISTER for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has tested positive for Covid-19.
According to a spokesperson for the government minister, McConalogue on Tuesday for the virus, returning a positive result 24 hours later.
He is said to be self-isolating at home following the result.
Despite the positive result McConalogue is said to be well and is not experiencing any symptoms.
McConalogue had been in Brussels on government business over the past few days and tested positive for the virus upon his return to Ireland.
A Government statement has confirmed that all Cabinet ministers are now restricting their movements in the wake of the positive test.
In line with public health advice, all ministers are now awaiting the results of their own tests for Covid-19.
They have been ordered to restrict any and all movements for a minimum of 14 days to minimise the potential spread of the virus.
McConalogue attended a full Cabinet meeting earlier this week.
The meeting lasted several hours, making the chances of another minister being infected realistic, to say the least.
McConalogue’s positive test is the first example of a known minister contracting the potentially deadly virus in Ireland.
It also marks the end of an extraordinary six months. for Agriculture Ministers in Ireland.
In June Barry Cowan succeeded Michael Creed in the role, but was sacked within a month after being convicted of drink driving.
His replacement, Dara Calleary, also resigned after just over a month in the job after it emerged he and 81 others attended an Oireachtas Golf Society dinner the previous day, in breach of Government Covid-19 guidelines.
