Coronavirus: NI 'a month ahead' of Ireland on vaccines

Northern Ireland is about a month ahead of the Republic of Ireland's Covid-19 vaccination programme, according to the taoiseach (Irish prime minister). Micheál Martin said it did not make much sense to talk about north-south vaccination alignment because NI was part of the UK programme while Ireland was part of the EU's. Alignment would be ideal, he said, but 'we're not in that situation'. An alignment on mandatory quarantines, however, would be 'useful', he added.