Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster has said a reported plan for the UK to share vaccines with the Irish Republic is a “runner”.
Mrs Foster, who has raised the proposal with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in recent conversations, expressed confidence it “hopefully will happen”.
She said sharing excess supply with the Republic was important in respect of being good neighbours but also because it would have a practical impact in Northern Ireland in terms of the region’s exit from lockdown.
“I think it is a runner,” Mrs Foster told RTE.
“When I’m next speaking to him (Mr Johnson) I’ll be making that point again.
“I think it’s important that we continue the conversation and I’ll be listening very carefully to what our medical advisers are saying about the rollout of the vaccine in Northern Ireland, where it is in the Republic of Ireland and what that means for both jurisdictions.”
The DUP leader added: “I think it’s the right thing that should happen, I think it’s a very practical thing to do and I think it should happen and hopefully it will.”
There were two further deaths of people with Covid-19 reported today in Northern Ireland and 116 new cases. There are 126 confirmed coronavirus patients in hospitals with 15 in ICU and 11 of whom are on ventilators.
