Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has issued a blow for hopes of a return to inter-county travel as he admitted the virus "keeps surprising us" and that June is a "long way away".
Taoiseach Michael Martin had earlier suggested travel between counties could be allowed by some point in the first month of summer.
However Mr Varadkar said that we are unlikely to see "much more" than the other proposed changes for May and early June, which includes the reopening of hairdressers, construction and non-essential retail.
However Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said there is “good news on the horizon” for non-essential travel abroad over the coming months.
But it came with the warning that June would be “too soon” for fully vaccinated Irish people to travel abroad for summer holidays, Tanáiste Leo Varadkar has said.
Mr Varadkar echoed Minister Coveney who stated although the EU green passport will be up and running in June, Irish people will be urged not to book flights.
The Tanaiste told the Irish Mirror June is too soon for fully vaccinated people to plan trips abroad and any easing of rules on international travel will only be permitted after our economy and society is largely reopened.
He said he will make the case for international travel when it is safe to do so but said “we’re just not there for June, it’s going to be later in the summer or later in the year.”
Minister Coveney said the government is supportive of the system which would allow for fully vaccinated people to travel within the EU but said it is “still some way off” for Ireland.
He said the same applies for tourists who are thinking of travelling to Ireland for a holiday.
He said: “For now, the message is no non-essential international travel.
“It’s against the law.
“I think that the green passport system will be in place by the start of June - that’s the plan.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean though that Ireland or other countries will buy into it from day one.
“But certainly at some stage over the next number of months, I think you will see the benefit of the potential for international travel again..”
Mr Coveney said the European Commission’s green passport scheme will be an IT and data system that can allow people to be on a database that would confirm that they’ve been vaccinated fully and are therefore in a different risk category.
Cabinet will meet next week and reveal their plan for the easing of restrictions over May, June and July.
And on the lifting of the inter-county travel ban in early June, Tanaiste Varadkar issued a warning to anyone who thinking of booking a staycation.
Mr Varadkar said: “To anyone who is booking fair enough but make sure that you look at the terms and conditions and that it’s refundable if inter-county travel is not possible.
“This virus keeps surprising us and June is a long way away and six weeks is a long time away in a pandemic.”
The Fine Gael leader said evidence in recent days has shown there is a decline in Covid-19 cases dropping and even increasing slightly.
He said: “We’re still in a space of phased reopening of retail, personal services and some more outdoor activities being allowed and the full opening of construction being phased over May, early June period.
“I don’t think it’ll be much more than that to be frank.”
Speaking at the Be Summer Ready launch on Wednesday, Minister Coveney said: “You will get in the next ten days a pathway of what to expect over the summer months.
“We are asking people to be vigilant and stay with us even though many people are frustrated and exhausted.
“The months of June, July, August and September will be months of progress, of loosening restrictions.”
