WATCH: Simon Coveney officially declares Santa Claus an 'Essential Worker'
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WATCH: Simon Coveney officially declares Santa Claus an 'Essential Worker'

SIMON COVENEY has confirmed that Santa can delivery presents as normal this year, officially declaring him an 'Essential Worker'.

Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs told the children of Ireland not to worry about Covid-19 restrictions affecting Santa's work this Christmas, assuring them that he won't need to self-quarantine or restrict his movements.

"He is exempt. He's coming," Coveney stressed.

"Can I say that, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, we've been working on the Santa Claus issue for a number of weeks now, and it's important to say to all children in the country that we regard Santa Claus' travels as essential travel for essential purposes.

"Therefore he is exempt from the need to self-quarantine for 14 days and should be able to come in and out of Irish airspace and indeed in and out of Irish homes without having to restrict his movement," he told TDs.

"But I am assured that children should not stay up at night because he does need to socially distance, and people do need to keep at least two metres away at all times to make sure we keep him safe."

Coveney went on to say that Santa "appreciated" the fact that Ireland had ensured his visit would go on normal, in spite of what will undoubtedly be a very different Christmas to what we're used to.