Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan has said that it is currently too early to offer advice to people who plan on returning to Ireland for Christmas.

Speaking today at the Oireachtas Transport Committee, Dr. Holohan said that "a whole lot of factors that are simply unknowable at this time," when speaking about the possibility of Christmas air travel. He added that "we're in a different situation now than the one we were in two weeks ago but it's simply not possible to look ahead to six weeks from now." Addressing the committee, Dr. Holahan said that "I understand completely the sensitivity there will be for families and for people who are thinking about these kinds of arrangements and wishing to come back together and all of the implications it has for the airline industry. But we're simply trying to, in the most dispassionate and evidence-based way as possible, to simply advise on what we think the risks are." https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1323593067283292161 Regarding the European Union's proposed travel 'traffic light' system which will categorise countries into green, orange and red, Dr. Holohan said that "The vast majority of countries are red and getting redder. That’s the current situation. That’s the reason we’re concerned about international travel at this point in time." However, Dr. Holohan did suggest that if current downward trends continue, Ireland could ease out of Level 5 restriction as planned on December 1. He said: "We are optimistic that we will find ourselves in a position that we will be able to recommend a change in the measures are in place at that time." READ NEXT: Baz Ashmawy shares emotional message as DIY SOS wraps up for the season