The government has decided to ban visits to other people's homes and gardens from tonight.

The restrictions will remain in place for four weeks, but exceptions will be made on compassionate grounds and for essential reasons such as childcare.

Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar told The Last Word that the decision was made because most COVID-19 transmission is happening in private households: "People are getting too close to each other and staying together for too long."

He also explained why pubs are still open despite the ban on household visits, and discussed legislation that would allow Gardaí to issue fines for not wearing a mask.