Simon Coveney urges people abroad wishing to return to Ireland to do so "ASAP"

The Tánaiste has urged people abroad wishing to return to Ireland to do so ASAP.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has urged people who wish to return to Ireland to "make arrangements to return as soon as possible."

In a statement released on Friday night, the Tánaiste said that the Irish embassy network is "working around the clock" to assist people, but that flight restrictions and cancellations are happening on a daily basis.

Coveney said he is are aware that this is a stressful situation for citizens, but that his department is working with airlines to show maximum flexibility to those passengers who need to change their existing flight arrangements.

He has said that there is no guarantee that air routes will operate in the coming weeks.

Specifically from the United Kingdom, the number of flights to Ireland are expected to reduce over the coming days, and those affected are being asked the monitor the situation closely.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised against all non-essential overseas travel until at least 29 March.

This comes shortly after it was announced that there was 126 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Ireland, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 683.