A controversial sitting of the Dáil takes place later with the Labour Party boycotting it.

They have argued TDs should be supporting the stay at home message and not having non-essential sittings of the Dáil.

The Dáil will meet for a three hour session to debate the coronavirus.

There will be two parts - with TDs debating the health and social welfare responses from the Government.

There will be measures in place to allow social distancing - with no more than 30% of TDs allowed to attend.

No party or grouping will be allowed to have more than twp TDs in the Dáil chamber at any one time.

But the Labour Party says it disagrees with the decision to sit.

Their TDs are boycotting the session - saying TDs should be supporting the 'stay at home' message, rather than having non-essential gatherings.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media on the plinth at the Dáil about COVID-19 | Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Sinn Féin on the other hand have argued it is vital for the Dáil to sit during this time to provide some accountability to a caretaker government that is making massive decisions for the country.

However party leader Mary Lou McDonald will not be attending.

She says she is feeling "under the weather" and is taking all necessary precautions.

Still under the weather so I'm staying home and taking all necessary precautions. Won't be at Dail sitting tomorrow but it's in the capable hands of team Sinn Féin

— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) April 1, 2020

The State's most senior civil servant, Martin Fraser, has issued a light rebuke to TDs in a letter to the Clerk of the Dáil.

He says everyone in the country has been asked to stay at home other than limited essential services, and he was sure that would be in the minds of TDs too.

Reporting by Sean Defoe