TAOISEACH Micheál Martin says he expects Covid-19 to "peter out" in Ireland over the coming months.
The Fianna Fáil leader insists there'll be "no magic day" when the virus is gone completely, and reiterated that there are no plans for a 'Freedom Day' like in the UK.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Martin said: "All this talk about freedom day, if you look at the last pandemic 100 years ago, it didn't end one day like. It will peter out or we will adapt with it, I think we're in a new phase of it.
"I think some people will say we have to see what happens in the depths of winter, in terms of new variants and new viruses but I think beyond this winter we are certainly in a much stronger position.
"We're certainly in a much stronger position now going into the autumn.
"Doing it the way we are doing it is better for the economy, better for society and better for every sector because you can derail it all, if you come of the rails with this, every sector will struggle. It makes absolute sense what we are doing."
Earlier this month, Ireland fully reopened both its hospitality and international travel sector, and Martin revealed what's next on the Government's agenda.
"We've reopened indoor dining, we've done travel, I think the indoor sporting is something we have to prepare for, live entertainment too - let's do it in a sustained way. What we open we want to retain."
See More: Covid-19, Ireland Reopening, Micheál Martin
