“We’re going to surprise you.”

That’s the latest promise from the Government when it comes to the ongoing battle against Covid-19, as Tánaiste Leo Varadkar revealed that Ireland’s vaccination programme is set to ramp up significantly in the coming weeks.

Over 30,500 vaccines were administered in Ireland on Friday, the highest number since the vaccine rollout began, but while Ireland has one of the lowest Covid-19 rates in Europe at the moment, the public is growing weary of tight restrictions and months in lockdown.

In a video posted on Facebook on Easter Monday, Mr Varadkar said the Government is working on a “digital green certificate vaccine pass” and “more freedoms for those who have been vaccinated”.

“We anticipate that by the middle of May the majority of adults will have had their first dose, and the over 70s will have been fully vaccinated.” the Tánaiste said.

“And by the end of June the vast, vast majority, more than 80 per cent of people, will have been offered the first dose.

“We’d hope to do even better than that as well and many will have their second dose too. So you know, really the acceleration phase, the ramp-up phase is April, May and June.”

Great to see the vaccine programme accelerating. At this rate, we’ll be at one million vaccines given in the next two days. Thank you to all the vaccinators, support staff and volunteers https://t.co/c1wLatGJX5

— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 5, 2021

Mr Varadkar said the addition of the fourth vaccine, the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, things will become “a little easier still”.

“I know a lot of people might feel that they’re never going to get vaccinated We’re going to surprise you.

“Like I say most adults will have had their first dose by the end of May, that’s not too far away.”