The World Health Organisation says a mask mandate should not be re-introduced in Ireland.
The Labour Party says they should be required for the first two months of the year, to help deal with the surge in hospital admissions.
Latest figures show 70 people have been on trolleys in emergency departments for over 24 hours.
But Dr David Nabarro, the WHO's special envoy on Covid-19, says compulsory mask-wearing isn't the way to solve the problem..
