TAOISEACH Micheal Martin has hailed Ireland's "brilliant" Covid-19 vaccine programme after its full vaccination rate overtook the UK's.
Mr Martin prised those involved in the rollout after Ireland reached the figure of 72.4 per cent of adults fully vaccinated. In the UK the rate was 72.1 per cent on Saturday.
More than 5.8 million jabs have been administered in Ireland to date.
It marks a significant turnaround for a country that experienced delays in the early stages of the vaccine programme associated with EU supply issues.
In the spring there was speculation the UK might even move to donate surplus vaccines to Ireland later in the year to help it address the shortfall in jabs.
Since then the Republic's rollout has accelerated significantly.
"The vaccine rollout is continuing at great pace," tweeted Mr Martin.
"Today we edged ahead of our nearest neighbours - a brilliant effort by everyone involved. Ireland: 72.4% of adults fully vaccinated UK: 72.1% of adults fully vaccinated."
The vaccine rate surpassed the UK's on the same day thousands of people got jabbed at new walk-in vaccine centres.
Ireland also reached another less positive milestone on Saturday as the number of cases reported in the country since the pandemic began reached 300,000.
More than 10,000 people got vaccinated at temporary walk-in centres across Ireland on Saturday.
Dozens of centres have been operating across the country over the bank holiday weekend as the vaccination programme continues at a significant pace.
Long queues have been observed at many across the weekend, with many young people among those waiting in line for a first jab.
Twenty of the centres will be open through Monday.
Chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE) Paul Reid commended the uptake.
He said 800 people were vaccinated at the City West in Dublin within 90 minutes of the centre opening on Saturday morning.
Mr Reid said Ireland was on the "final countdown" to protection from Covid-19.
"Due to the success of it we are looking at how we will utilise it now going forward," he told RTE.
"So we do expect to use it again in a very targeted and focused way not just generally walk-ins but very targeted, focused and promoted. So we do expect to use it again."
The walk-in centres run by the HSE are open to anyone aged 16 and over who has yet to receive a first dose.
Those attending will receive a Pfizer jab.
No appointment is necessary but people wishing to get vaccinated will need to produce photo ID and their Personal Public Service number.
Health officials have said children aged 12-16 should be offered a vaccination in August.
