Thread by @gavreilly

Leo Varadkar: “Unfortunately, once again we’re at a moment of national peril.”

The Omicron wave is coming “hard and fast. There will be dark days in January again.”

"We won't allow your businesses to fail… when this is over we will need you more than ever"

Tánaiste estimates that 50,000 to 70,000 people will lose their jobs as a result of these move

To young people, who see peers in other countries living with more freedom than them: "In 2022 we'll do all that we can to make this up to you"

Tony Holohan observes that we only got a name for Omicron three weeks ago today, and there is still a lot we don't know about it

Taoiseach says today's interventions are an example of the Government being proactive

Holohan says there is a danger of "particular pressure" being put on critical care units, and this at a time when there are already more than the usual number of people in hospitals being treated for other reasons

On weddings being allowed to stay at 100: 'We are trying to achieve balance with a bit of a heart'

Taoiseach asked if there's a plan for other variants going forward.

"When the virus changes, we must learn to respond to it."

Mentions the suite of combats - testing and tracing, interventions, vaccines, antiviral drugs

ℹ️ There are doubts about Omicron's severity, the Taoiseach says, but that's not a risk the Government can afford to take.

Covid won't be here forever, the Taoiseach says, but he can't put a timeline on it.

Tánaiste repeats his remarks that Covid is likely to be a "long war".

Varadkar: "In a long war, if it's possible to have periods of freedom, that might make sense… we should give people a bit of a break… but that's all for after Omicron"

Q. If last Christmas was 'meaningful', what is this one?

A. "As I've said this evening, our message is to enjoy Christmas safely this year, and look out for each other. There's a strong seasonality for this virus as well."

CMO corrects me that it was not NPHET recommendation to remove pre-travel testing requirement - international travel is a higher-risk activity when dealing with a new variant, he says - virus is already here, but it can reduce risk on a high-risk activity

Am told from the podium that the 8pm closure also applies to hotel bars and restaurants.

Am then told by an official that bars can REMAIN open after 8pm for overnight residents, upon presentation of a Covid certificate.

Religious events like Midnight Mass are exempt from the 8pm closure clause