Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned that pubs will likely remain closed over the coming months as infection rates remain high across Ireland.
The current level of restrictions will see some changes come March 5, but the strict nature of these measures will likely remain the same after this date.
There has yet to be any mention of when Ireland will return to normality, and as cases remain high, it’s unlikely this will happen any time soon.
Speaking on Tuesday, he said; “I don’t right now have a date (to reopen) to be honest with you.”
The Taoiseach said a “critical mass of the population” will need to be vaccinated before restrictions can ease.
Government officials have continuously insisted that they will be taking a much more conservative approach to Ireland’s exit from current measures to ensure there won't be future spikes in cases.
Mr. Martin said" "We will evolve out of this — we will get more comfortable and confident as we vaccinate the population.”
Speaking about when the hospitality industry may reopen, seeing thousands return to work, the taoiseach said “if we have learned anything, the virus and hospitality are too compatible.”
However, he also said the government “equally acknowledges that there are thousands and thousands of jobs dependent on (hospitality and tourism). “
Ireland’s bars and pubs last reopened after similar lockdown measures back on June 29.
The number of new cases reported that week, across the entire country, was just 74.
Meanwhile, over the last seven days, 6,224 cases have been reported, so if that is anything to go by, it could be months before pubs and bars welcome back customers.
Once we get to that point, Micheál Martin said: “We are going to have to help the hospitality sector to reboot and restart.
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"We will have to look at new initiatives to help the hospitality sector as it emerges from Covid-19 because it has suffered more than most."
In the meantime, people are to be rest assured that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will remain in place and that the government will not “be pulling the rug from any of those supports, there will be no cliff-edge in relation to the supports ranging from pandemic unemployment support to others.”
