Horse racing in Ireland is set to be postponed after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar brought a halt to all sporting events.

Follow a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team this morning, Varadkar held a press conference to introduce a raft of new measures in order to combat the spread of Covid-19.

During his speech, he explained that sporting events even those taking place behind closed doors must stop until 19 April at the earliest, with the FAI announcing an extension to the cessation of all football up to that date.

A week ago, Horse Racing Ireland took the decision to continue race meetings without members of the general public, despite their British equivalent and other Irish sporting bodies suspending activities.

Meanwhile, the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) and Irish Ladies Gold Union (ILGU) have recommended that all golf clubs, practice facilities and courses close with immediate effect until 19 April.