The Minister for Health has said there has been a "slight potential increase" in the reproductive rate of Covid-19.
Simon Harris told the Dáil that the data suggests that the rate is now between 0.4 and 0.7.
However, he said the number still remains below 1 and that means we are still suppressing the growth of the virus.
The minister said figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) show that as of midnight on 30 May, 110 Covid-19 outbreaks in residential care facilities have been concluded.
Of those, he said, 61 are in nursing homes.
Last week, that figure was 29. That is an additional 32 nursing homes that have had no Covid-19 cases for 28 days.
Minister Harris said he spoke with the CEO of the National Screening Service this morning and that he wanted to assure the Dáil, and the people who use the screening services, that a plan for resumption of services is under way.
"There is extensive work ongoing and I expect further progress shortly. I have asked that the screening service to liaise with advocacy groups in this regard."
He said the screening process will have to change, it will have to be done in a way that is safe and effective.
"As we open more of our economy and society, and I hope tomorrow Government will be able to proceed to Phase Two, our individual actions will matter more than ever."
Mr Harris gave a strong indication to reporters tonight that the Cabinet would tomorrow approve entering Phase Two of lifting restrictions.
He said that if the travel limit is extended from 5km to 20km, the slogan may be changed from "stay at home" to "stay local".
Heath Minister @SimonHarrisTD gives v strong indication Cabinet will approve Ireland moving into Phase 2, with additional restrictions lifted. Says if we move from 5 to 20k travel limit, slogan might be "stay local" rather "stay at home" @rtenews pic.twitter.com/2LoCkTcZOn
— Paul Cunningham (@RTENewsPaulC) June 4, 2020
Fianna Fáil's health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly told the Dáil that closing screening services for three months has meant that around 170,000 screenings have not happened.
"We all back the screening services, we know early detection saves lives and also unfortunately delayed detection can cost lives."
He said many doctors and labs believe the services can open now and he said they were anxious to have a date for reopening.
Deputy Donnelly quoted one GP who said: "We have a tentative date for the opening of hair dressers and pubs but not for cancer screening - it's alarming and extremely concerning."
Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler pointed out that cancer screening services are extremely important for women's health and need to be reopened as soon as possible.
She said women were phoning her on a regular basis concerned about the issue of cancer screening services.
In response, Minister Harris said that the the four screening service programmes will report on their final plans on restarting in the coming days.
"I had a very good meeting with the HSE CEO and Chief Clinical Officer Doctor Colm Henry yesterday I believe, a very good meeting today with the chief executive of the National Screening Service as well."
However, he said there is a "complexity" in relation to getting screening services right and he said it has to be safe for patients and staff.
The minister said screening services can often involve healthy people volunteering to come forward into the health service.
"Screening can often involve tests or examinations which can present challenges for staff running the programmes in light of the need to comply with physical distancing measures."
He said there has been a working group established and he said they were reviewing the individual programme plans for recommencement.
Labour leader Alan Kelly said it was "no good" for the minister to say he had a good meeting with the national screening director unless there is a date.
"Women around the country, men around the country know when they will be able to buy a pint but they don't know when screening services will begin and we all know there are going to be challenges but they don't know when they will begin. And that is just down right ridiculous and wrong."
Sinn Féin's health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly called for a commitment that missed care will be caught up on. She also called for a catch-up programme and an information programme for women.
"A lot of us will be nervous and anxious going back to the screening service, we know how important it is. We have spoken at length about it."
Minister Harris said he would not give a commitment on how the programme will be resumed because he said it would have to be clinician led.
He agreed that an information programme for people who used the screening programmes was vital.
"I would like to see the Irish Cancer Society, the 221+ group, the Marie Keating foundation invited in to meet the screening service. I know many of them are in contact and I have asked that that happens."
Hospital beds may be closed for infection control
Minister Harris told the Dáil that up to a quarter of public beds in acute public hospitals may have to be closed due to infection control measures necessary to combat the spread of Covid-19.
He said that was a real possibility and the CEO of the HSE was "bottoming out" the issue at the moment and they discussed it this week.
He was responding to questions from Deputy O'Reilly who said such a move was "deeply deeply worrying".
She also asked whether the increased public bed capacity would be maintained.
Mr Harris said if he was Minister they would remain open but it was a matter for the new government.
National Traveller Health Action Plan
Mr Harris told the Dáil that it has been a great regret that the National Traveller Health Action Plan has not been published yet and that he would urge whoever the next minister is to get it done because "it's nearly there".
He was responding to questions from Green Party TD Malcolm Noonan about how Travellers have been supported through the pandemic.
Mr Harris said there were many supports put in place during the pandemic including regular meetings with Traveller health units and the HSE's social inclusion units.
He said among other supports, Travellers were classified as a priority group for testing.
Additional reporting Aisling Kenny/Sandra Hurley
