We must align pandemic response, says Michelle O'Neill

The Deputy First Minister has said the UK and Ireland need to align their approaches to the coronavirus pandemic.

Michelle O'Neill warned the issue of travel between the countries is crucially important in the future.

The Sinn Fein vice-president attended a virtual meeting of the British Irish Council, which focused on recovery from the virus' devastating impact.

Ms O'Neill added: "We must be as aligned as we possibly can be and the issue of travel is crucially important as we move forward and out of wave two."

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Welsh First Minster Mark Drakeford, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Cabinet Minister Michael Gove also attended the meeting.

Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster stressed the importance of economic recovery and protecting people and the health service.

During a meeting last summer, Mr Martin said Irish cross-border work on improving the monitoring of quarantining international visitors is moving forward.

International arrivals in Dublin airport can cross the border into Northern Ireland despite impediments to how visitors from Covid-19 high-risk countries are monitored for self-isolation compliance once they do so.

Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann has held talks with his counterpart in the Republic, Stephen Donnelly.

On Friday Ms O'Neill said: "The virus doesn't stop because it's moving from the jurisdiction to another, it moves very freely across this island."

The council of leaders last met a year ago when discussions focused on restoring devolution in Northern Ireland and Brexit.

It was set up following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.