Taoiseach Micheal Martin is set to address the nation later today as Ireland prepares to exit one of the strictest lockdowns any country has experienced during the pandemic.
While several dates have already been reported for the easing of restrictions such as travel, hair and gatherings, the hospitality sector is still the most highly talked about and anticipated decision ahead of the major changes.
Reports emerging suggest that all pubs and restaurants allowed serve outdoors will be coming back between June 7 to mid-June.
An interesting revelation from Minister Eamon Ryan yesterday confirmed that the €9 substantial meal rule would be scrapped.
This means that pubs that don't serve food will also be allowed serve from June 7 onwards.
What's being rumoured about the pub sector?
While nothing official has been announced, earlier this month, a senior Government source told Dublin Live: “June 10th is the date that has been mentioned for hotels (reopening).
“The vaccination programme has been working and it is the plan to continue to progress the reopening of our society."
When asked if the future included plans for hotels, pubs and restaurants, the source added: “Yes, hospitality included.”
And if those comments from the Fianna Fáil meeting last night are true, it would appear that June 10th is the target.
The source who put forward the suggested date did say it would "depend on how things go".
Elsewhere, the Licenced Vintners Association have called on the government to allow outdoor drinks and food by May 24.
What has been said about the pub and restaurant sectors?
Given the high number of people who work in these industries and their importance to the social fabric of Irish life, the desire to reopen pubs and restaurants have been more vocal than most others.
It's reported that the opening of outdoor hospitality - along with full intercounty travel - could commence in the last week of May, ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend. Again, nothing official has been confirmed yet.
Speaking today ahead of a crunch Cabinet meeting, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said there won’t be a distinction between wet pubs and pubs that serve food when the hospitality industry is allowed to reopen for customers indoors.
When asked if there’ll be any more €9 substantial meals, Mr Ryan said: “I think less likely, I think we've learned outdoor is safer..that will define..not whether you're having chicken nuggets on top of it.
“I think we might learn from, we don’t want all those systems where you have to ..people had to get a certain meal and it was a false kind of division.
“I think it will start outdoors because it’s much safer and I don’t think it’ll be whether it’s divided between food or not.
“Really outdoors versus indoors will be the difference.”
These comments echo previous remarks that Minister Simon Harris made when he said that the government will be looking to do "a little bit more" outdoors and that ultimately, while well-intentioned, the substantial meal rule became a bit of a "mockery."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin previously said that summer will have an outdoor theme and speaking today he said “we need to get the balance right” in relation to easing hospitality restrictions.
