There are no guarantees.

But Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has offered some much-needed hope that normal life will begin to resume in post-pandemic Ireland during the second half of 2021.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Varadkart said: “With the vaccine, with mass testing and with the knowledge of how to prevent and treat this virus, I think the pandemic will end in 2021.”

“We really have to be giving the vaccine for about two months before you really see it really make a difference, it’s a two-dose vaccine.

“I think we’re talking about something like late March or early April, around Easter, and that doesn’t mean things will be back to normal by then, we’ll be more in the level one or level two space by then.

“It’s far from guaranteed, but that’s the kind of timeline we’re looking at.”

Asked whether foreign travel and holidays may be back on the cards for summer 2021, the Tánaiste added: “Oh I hope so, I’m starting to look very pale.”