"There is a real risk, at the moment, of the [Covid-19] virus being re-imported into Ireland."
So said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today as he outlined why his Cabinet had ruled out easing restrictions on travel into, and out of, the island of Ireland.
He said public health advice remained the same: "Don't travel off the island for tourism; don't come to the island for tourism; anyone who is arriving here, - even for an essential reason - will have to fill-out a passenger form, and will be strongly advised to self-quarantine for at least 14 days."
However, there is going to be a significant challenge when the Cabinet comes to, at whatever point, re-open the country to Europe and the wider world. And the problem will be most acute when it comes to Britain.
At the moment, Ireland is liaising with other EU member states on a coordinated response to the problem.
Mr Varadkar said the Irish Government would "really like to see" what he termed "proper EU coordination" and avoid what happened last March when, in his words, "every EU country kind of did their own thing when it came to closing borders and restricting flights".
The Taoiseach then outlined what the coordinated plan might look at.
He said: "We would like a common set of rules that if, for example, the number of new cases in a particular country is below a certain level ... for a certain number of days ... well, that's where you can have an airbridge."
However, that plan hasn't been signed-off in EU capitals and so Ireland is adopting a cautious approach.
The Taoiseach explained: "We think opening up on 15 June to air travel, as some countries are doing, is way too soon. And we need to get this right first, and get the precautions right in airports as well. So we will review the situation again in two weeks' time."
But it's complicated. Very complicated.
Under EU rules, citizens are free to travel, work or study anywhere in the European Union if they want to. However, there are exceptions to those rules and the declaration of pandemic is one.
Mr Varadkar explained: "This is an unusual situation ... a public health emergency ... and in certain situations like that, member states are able to make their own rules."
A further complication is the emerging relationship that Ireland has with the UK - a country that has left the European Union.
Under the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK, people have the right to travel freely between the two jurisdictions. However, our restrictions and quarantine period has seen the travel numbers fall off a cliff.
But at some point Ireland is going to have to open its airports and ports. That's when the difficult choices have to be made, particularly due to the levels of Covid-19 in Britain.
At a news conference today, Mr Varadkar was asked directly about that issue by journalist Christina Finn.
He replied: "That is a concern. And we have to be frank with people about that. There are almost 50,000 deaths already confirmed in the UK - probably higher if they counted them the way we do. The 'R' number is still at one, or above one, in some British regions."
Mr Varadkar then spelled it out in technicolor: "There is a real risk at the moment of the virus being re-imported into Ireland by people travelling here from Britain. That's why the restrictions have to stay in place for now."
And it seems to follow that if there isn't a significant change in Britain, the restrictions may not be lifted for quite some time.
If Britain is held to the same standards that are applied between EU member states, then we could have flight connections between Dublin and Athens but not, hypothetically, Newcastle, Leeds or Manchester.
