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Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin has urged the UK Prime Minister to financially support Northern Ireland\u2019s Covid-19 restrictions.<\/p>\nTaoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin has urged the UK Prime Minister to financially support Northern Ireland\u2019s Covid-19 restrictions.<\/p>\n
He discussed the rising numbers of cases on both sides of the Irish border with Boris Johnson this morning.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI made a very strong point to the British Prime Minister this morning that the situation is very, very worrying in terms of the growing numbers in Northern Ireland and that they needed support, that the Northern Ireland Executive needed support, and that if he could give consideration in terms of financial support to underpin any efforts or any restrictions that they themselves might decide to bring in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Martin made his comments at Farmleigh House in Dublin.<\/p>\n
He said the two leaders did not discuss introducing an island-wide \u201ccircuit breaker\u201d short-term tightening of restrictions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UK has its own issues and challenges in relation to regional approaches that it is adopting to the Coved situation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt was really around the idea of supporting the North in whatever measures the First Minister and Deputy First Minister might decide to take and highlighting the concerns about the growing numbers in the North and the need for coordination. But also critically also supports.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Johnson recently told the BBC he will provide extra resources to help the Stormont executive fight a second wave of coronavirus.<\/p>\n
He said he will work with First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill if they opt for a so-called \u201ccircuit breaker\u201d.<\/p>\n
This is a limited lockdown over a number of weeks to try and stem rising numbers of cases.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Foster and Ms. O\u2019Neill have also called on Mr. Johnson to provided added financial support if a further lockdown is required in the region.<\/p>\n
They were asked about the Taoiseach\u2019s comments as they addressed the media at Stormont today.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe obviously recognizes the precarious situation that we find ourselves in,\u201d said Ms O\u2019Neill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are as concerned. And I think it\u2019s important that we get the call that we\u2019ve asked for with Boris Johnson around financial supports.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cI welcome the fact the Taoiseach has picked up the phone and that he is speaking to Boris Johnson. I\u2019ve always thought that we needed an all-island approach and I think we need strong all-Ireland coordination. I also think we need that coordination east-west also.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody\u2019s immune here, we\u2019re all facing this very, very difficult situation but no doubt we here in the north seem to be in a worse situation right now and we\u2019re looking towards toward the British government for support to help us, financial support to help us deal with the situation that we\u2019re facing right now and I welcome the Taoiseach\u2019s intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs. Foster added: \u201cI understand the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach were talking about wider issues around Covid, it\u2019s not surprising that there would be a conversation about the rise in cases in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Prime Minister I\u2019m sure will want to ensure that we in Northern Ireland are in a place where we can deal with Covid-19 and we have requested a conversation with him which hopefully will take place in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n