The return of indoor dining is imminent in Ireland.
The government has signed off on legislation to enable the reopening, but the crucial rules about how this will be done are still being ironed out.
President Michael D Higgins formally sanctioned the legislation by signing the Bill on Wednesday.
Some of the changes when we get back indoors will include the scrapping of last year’s 105-minute rule and checks on customers’ immunity coming in the door.
However, for anyone hoping for the lifting of further restrictions, there is bad news.
Both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste were speaking this morning about that very possibility.
Taoiseach warns of "risk"
Micheál Martin was in a positive mood when speaking to reporters about the reopening of pubs earlier on Wednesday.
But he urged extra “vigilance” ahead of the reopening of pubs and restaurants.
And the Taoiseach said that we all have to “redouble our efforts” in the face of the ever-advancing Delta variant.
He said: “I met with the Deputy CMO (Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn) yesterday and I met with Philip Nolan (Department of Health’s head of Covid modelling) in relation to the modelling and I have to say now that every setting now carries risk with it in relation to the Delta variant itself and its transmissibility.
Tánaiste doesn't expect easing in next few weeks
Mr Varadkar was speaking outside Dublin Castle after this week’s Cabinet meeting, where he said he was “optimistic” that these figures are manageable.
"We can’t know that for sure and that’s why I think we need to be quite cautious for the next couple of weeks.
“And while restrictions will be eased in relation to indoor dining on Monday, I don’t anticipate there being very much easing beyond that for the next few weeks, at least until we have a better idea with where we stand when it comes to this Delta wave.”
