Ireland is set to complete a major step in its reopening plan in the next few weeks - as indoor dining will return by no later than July 31, according to new plans agreed by the Government.
The original date of July 5 was postponed due to fears over the Delta variant.
Aside from providing a specific date for businesses to reopen, it's understood that rules governing the space that must be maintained between tables and a possible time limit for customers will also be agreed upon.
Elsewhere, the Digital Travel Green Cert is set to be issued to vaccinated people today ahead of the return of travel on July 19.
Here's the latest update from Government leaders ahead of a statement which is imminent:
Taoiseach says reopening will be phased
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he could not “preside” over young, unvaccinated people getting infected with Covid-19 while availing of indoor dining.
It comes as Cabinet are set to finalise legislation to facilitate the resumption of indoor hospitality only for those who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19.
Around two million vaccine certs are being sent out this week which will be checked on entrance to pubs and restaurants when they reopen, likely to be around July 23.
Speaking to reporters in Co Louth on Monday, Mr Martin said indoor dining will reopen in phases and the use of antigen testing may be deployed “having evaluated the first phase.”
He told the Irish Mirror: “Right throughout this pandemic, it was very clear the order of and the scale of where particular activities are more dangerous than others.
“That was very clear in terms of the advice that we received not just in terms of Ireland but internationally..
“We made progress on the gradual reopening and that's clear to see and what we don’t want is to be open and have to close again.
“There is caution here in terms of the one hour and 45 minutes and so forth.”
Leo Varadkar hints at use of antigen tests
Leo Varadkar wants pubs and restaurants to carry out antigen tests on their young unvaccinated staff up to twice a week.
Concerns have been raised over the risk being posed to young people who have to work in hospitality without the protection of a jab yet because they’re too young.
It has also been raised that they could be carriers and spreaders of the virus too.
Now, Minister for Enterprise, Mr Varadkar, has called on business owners to provide antigen testing up to twice a week to combat these problems.
Mr Varadkar said: “One thing we are saying though to employers is that employers should consider the use of antigen testing of staff.
“And it is one thing I think restaurateurs and publicans could do on a regular basis to staff, maybe twice a week, or once a week, which we know can be very effective.
“It’s quite different to a one-off test which perhaps is less effective.”
