Minister Simon Harris is optimistic that pubs will be able to reopen and provide outdoor service this summer without the need for a substantial meal.
Speaking with KCLR this afternoon, the Wicklow TD was asked about his recent comments where he expressed his hope that the government will allow people to do "a little bit more outdoors" this summer.
When asked if he could provide a date by which people could eat outside in a restaurant or bar, Minister Harris said: "This is an area I'll get into trouble if I over-speculate on because I don't know the answer yet but I don't see why we won't be able to do that during the summer months. We managed this last summer.
"This summer, we obviously have the benefit of vaccines as well. I've been making the point in recent days that the outdoors is pretty safe. And we're already seeing people being able to meet at a picnic bench and have a picnic with someone from another household. That's not much different than outdoor dining in my view."
Later on in the conversation, the Fine Gael TD was asked if the substantial meal rule will potentially be a condition for anyone that wants to dine or drink outdoors. Harris said that in some cases, the substantial meal ruling became a bit of a "mockery" with the intended reason for the rule not paying dividends.
"Yeah, it became a bit of a mockery the last time, if I'm being honest. I mean, I was involved with the rule and I'm being self-critical here, this idea that a plate of chicken goujons can somehow protect you from Covid. What protects you from Covid is social distancing, being safe indoors, wearing your mask, washing your hands, and all those things we've learned. So I think there does have to be common sense here when we get to that point."
With Cabinet set to meet next week as they formulate a plan for May and June, Minister Harris expressed sympathy to those business owners who are frustrated at the lack of a clear reopening date.
"I am hoping that we will - and I believe we will and that it's essential - to have clarity for the months ahead for a couple of reasons.. I've been talking to hoteliers, restauranteurs and they're all very reasonable people that are under huge pressure. They just want as much certainty as we can give them and they don't have unrealistic expectations.
"They understand the dangers of the virus. Nobody wants to do anything that's not safe, they just want us to try and put a roadmap in place that shows how over the next few weeks and months, we reopen our country in a way that is safe and sustainable.
"The question that I've been asking to my Cabinet colleagues - and one that I've been answering when people have asked me - is would it be possible to do a little bit more outdoors? And I suppose I'm saying, I hope it would. At the minute, you can meet up outdoors with one other household and I think that's gone well. Is there scope for that to maybe be two households? Are there a few other bits and pieces we could do outdoors that would be safe or would also be good from a mental health and well-being point of view?
Later on in the conversation, the Wicklow TD addressed the topic of weddings and while he couldn't give any new and definitive update, Harris did say that weddings are on the agenda for next week's meeting.
"Next week - it's likely to be on Thursday or Friday of next week - at the special Cabinet meeting, I do hope we can provide that roadmap that can tell people what May, June and July will look like and provide clarity on wedding numbers as well.
"From memory, last year we got to a point where we were able to have reasonably small weddings, but not extremely small. I think we got to 50 people last summer but I don't want to speculate. However, to reiterate, we need to get back to that point, I think there's an onus on us to try and provide clarity and I hope we have an update next Thursday or Friday."
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