A Fianna Fáil Senator has called for a return to Level Two restrictions when lockdown is lifted.

It comes as the Taoiseach faces increasing pressure from within his own party over his suggestion the ‘target’ for Christmas was Level Three.

Level Three would mean no indoor service in bars and restaurants and no indoor social or family gatherings in the home.

At a Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting last night however, he came under pressure from his party colleagues to go to Level Two restrictions – which would allow travel between counties, limited visitors to the home and restricted indoor dining.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne said Level Two should be possible.

“I certainly think that in December, we should allow, to give people hope, to have some type of Christmas, emphasise personal responsibility but we have got to allow some level of opening up,” he said.

“I think we can go to Level Two but, as I said, with that strong emphasis on personal responsibility.

“I think people know how dangerous this thing is. I think it is also about sending out the positive messages of what we can do.”

Difficult position

He said the Taoiseach and Minister for Health are “really caught in a difficult position” and noted that nobody wants families to be apart for Christmas.

“I would certainly hope that we do move to a situation where we can have some sort of Christmas,” he said. “That people are able to travel and to meet with their families.

“I think something we all associate with the Christmas period is going back home and reconnecting and I certainly hope that will be the case for December 25th.”

"Personal responsibility"

He said a lot of people are finding the second lockdown a “bit more difficult than the first one.”

“The message has to be very clear over the December period,” he said.

“This is about personal responsibility and it is about reinforcing those messages about washing hands, wearing facemasks, keeping social distance, limiting contacts – all of those things.

“But I think, over the Christmas period, we have also got to give people hope. People know that we have got to come through this. I would like to see a situation whereby we can see the hospitality trade – the hotels and restaurants – reopen.”

He noted that people have been following the rules very well in recent week – but warned that, if the restrictions are too strict in December, people will simply flout them.