The Taoiseach says the National Public Health Emergency Team will make a recommendation advising people to wear “face coverings” not face masks in certain circumstances.
Leo Varadkar was responding to a question from the Sligo-Leitrim independent TD Marian Harkin in the Dail on Thursday afternoon.
Deputy Harkin said: “I am delighted that we are finally getting some certainty on this issue, which I have raised with the Taoiseach before, as I believe face coverings are an important extra tool in our arsenal to fight the spread of the Coronavirus.
“I emphasis to the Taoiseach the need to plan to avoid possible shortages and a spike in costs of masks before we begin to open up next Monday.
“I agreed with the Taoiseach that face coverings were not a substitute for hand washing, social distancing etc, they are simply an extra protection to help to avoid the spread of this deadly virus.”
