MICHEÁL Martin has said the British government should provide extra financial support to the north if further restrictions are imposed to combat rising Covid cases.
The taoiseach last night told The Irish News he was "very worried" about the growing number of infections on both sides of the border.
A further 828 cases were recorded in the north yesterday, while more than 100 people are in hospital - up from just 16 a month ago.
Executive ministers are due to meet again today to discuss if further restrictions should be imposed.
New 'Level 3' restrictions came into effect across the Republic yesterday.
With localised measures also in place in the Derry and Strabane council area, Mr Martin said he was satisfied with the level of cross-border cooperation.
He said he spoke to First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill on Monday night and there was also a "good level of coordination" between the two chief medical officers.
"We need to work closely to approximate measures as best as we can," he said.
"I take the politics out of it and I look at it as purely a public health measure – that's why the memorandum of understanding was signed between the two CMOs."
The Fianna Fáil leader said Stormont health minister Robin Swann had "impressed a lot of people with his commitment to this issue".
"On the ground level I think the total approximation to the measures we're taking that are then reciprocated in the north, the better on both sides of the border," he said.
"That basically means that we can collectively and together suppress this virus, because the numbers are worringly very high."
The Fianna Fáil leader said he had also spoken to Boris Johnson this week about coordinating efforts with the Northern Ireland Executive.
He said Whitehall would need to provide additional financial support to counter the adverse impact on the regional economy.
"We'll keep in touch with London because we'll have to work to see if can they give some support to the north," he said.
"If they (the executive) were to step up Covid restrictions they would need to be in a position to deal with the financial consequences."
