Thread by @gavreilly

Taoiseach's speech is live now on @VirginMediaNews.

He says what Ireland has had to come through is unimaginable, but necessary "because the number one priority had to be the protection of people's lives and public health"

@VirginMediaNews "We've managed to protect a greater proportion of our people than most other countries… your effort and your sacrifice has saved lives"

@VirginMediaNews This all sounds very valedictory

@VirginMediaNews It is the Irish people's respect for, and trust in, science that has made [vaccination] such a powerful tool in our country"

Close to 90% of adults are fully vaccinated as of this morning

@VirginMediaNews MM: "Because of the effort of our vaccination team and because you have stepped up to the mark and taken the vaccine when it was offered, we are now entering a whole new phase of the pandemic."

@VirginMediaNews "We expect to see an increase in case numbers over the coming weeks, but the combined strategy of careful reopening and energetic vaccination has brought us to the point where we can begin to do things differently."

@VirginMediaNews "The time is now right to begin the move from regulation, and widespread restriction on personal freedom… to personal behaviour, judgement and personal responsibility."

@VirginMediaNews "We must remain nimble" and if a new variant comes, or hospitals face unsustainable pressure, "we will move quickly"