The Taoiseach has said the Government may seek enforcement powers to ensure that the ban on no indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people applies to pubs and clubs.

In a tweet this morning, Leo Varadkar said he could refer the matter to the Dáil and Seanad.

He said he had asked the National Public Health Emergency Team for further expert guidance on the issue.

Mr Varadkar said people who had been out this weekend should avoid physical contact with seniors or people with chronic diseases.

He said such people could make them very, very sick.

Senior health officials appealed for people to adhere to social distancing guidelines, outlined on the HSE website, to help slow the spread of the virus.

There have been 128 cases of Covid-19 in the country, with two deaths so far.

No indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people applies to pubs & clubs. Have asked NPHET for further expert guidance on this. May seek enforcement powers from Dail/Seanad.
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) March 15, 2020

This comes after a video last night showed a pub in Dublin packed to the rafters with people singing and dancing which increases the risk of the Covid 19 virus been spread.

Many pubs across Ireland yesterday decided to close their doors for a period of time lasting up until the 29th of March where they will then review before reopening and whether it is safe to do so.

The minister for Health Simon Harris shared this video last night which shows the mass gathering in temple bar which has outraged people all over Ireland.

Simon Harris tweeted

Not far from here, nurses & doctors are working to prepare for the impact of a global pandemic. Everyone is working 24/7. This is an insult to their efforts. There is very clear public health advice. Follow it. All options will be kept under constant review #CoronaVirusUpdates

Not far from here, nurses & doctors are working to prepare for the impact of a global pandemic. Everyone is working 24/7. This is an insult to their efforts. There is very clear public health advice. Follow it. All options will be kept under constant review #CoronaVirusUpdates https://t.co/XQvJ7tC13D
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 14, 2020

On Saturday second person died and 39 more cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed by the Department of Health.

This brings the total number of cases in the Republic to 129 and the total number of deaths to two.

It is understood that the patient who died had an underlying health condition.

Among the 39 new cases, 29 are male and 10 are female.

There were 21 new cases in the east of the country, 13 in the south, three in the north-west and two in the west.

There are now 163 cases of Covid-19 on the island of Ireland.

That number will increase again later this evening when new figures are released.

Many countries imposing travel restrictions due to #COVID19 Irish citizens should now exercise a high degree of caution when making travel plans.@dfatirl now advising against non-essential travel to Czech, Cyprus, Denmark, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Spain & No travel to Italy. pic.twitter.com/mGTdFjJint
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) March 14, 2020

A second person has died and 39 more cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed by the Department of Health.

This brings the total number of cases in the Republic to 129 and the total number of deaths to two.

It is understood that the patient who died had an underlying health condition.

Among the 39 new cases, 29 are male and 10 are female.

There were 21 new cases in the east of the country, 13 in the south, three in the north-west and two in the west.

There are now 163 cases of Covid-19 on the island of Ireland.