The government is set to meet with representatives of the hospitality sector on Tuesday to formalise the introduction of new legislation for indoor dining.
The legislation will see the resumption of indoor dining reopening in three phases.
Phase one will allow fully vaccinated people or a person who has recovered from Covid-19 allowed to dine indoors.
Phase two will see people allowed indoors with a negative PCR test. Phase three will see those with a negative antigen test allowed inside pubs.
If an individual recovered from Covid-19, they will be allowed to dine and drink indoors for up to six months from the original date of infection.
The Tànaiste also said that people aged under 18 can dine indoors with a fully vaccinated parent.
An exemption will also apply to unvaccinated staff working in pubs and restaurants.
However, there are still plenty of questions about the practicality of the new Covid cert and the enforcement measures surrounding it.
During an interview on RTE's Morning Ireland, Tourism Minister Catherine Martin said the following to about...
How do you gain access to a pub/restaurant and use the cert?
"You gain access by presenting your vaccines cert or indeed proof that you've had Covid in the last six months. The details of this will be worked out with a working group that I have set up which will meet today. This follows engagement with the sector, union reps, and NPHET advice.
"I stress that this system that we set up is a temporary system to help reopen businesses, restore jobs and keep people safe. It will only last as long as necessary and there's the sunset clause until October, 9 too."
How is it practically done and who will enforce this?
"There are a number of different layers, checks and balances. In the same way that people might check your age or people take care of your contact details, now the premises will check if you have a cert. The types of passes that will be accepted will be prescribed in the regulation by the Minister of Health.
"They will of course include the EU digital Covid Cert, probably the NHS one and ones from other countries too. Covid compliance officers will be able to come into the premises and check the system - so they would check the book to make sure that at the moment when you enter a restaurant, you've presented your cert. These compliance officers will come from the HSE or the HSA. The Gardai will be notified if there are any breaches.
"The compliance officer may enter the premise without a warrant at any time to make an inspection, examination or to observe the proof that's taken at the door. There will not be people spot-checking individual tables in the restaurants. It's really just to assess whether the indoor operator complied with the conditions. If the compliance officer forms a view that the operator has permitted access that's in contravention of regulations, the officer will take further action."
Where will these Covid compliance officers come from and what are the fines?
"Compliance officers will come from the HSE or the HSA. There are about 350 environmental health officers and 70 inspectors who monitor workplaces for the HSE. There can be checks if someone's name has been taken - officers will take contact details and if they have been vaccinated. The Gardai can then be notified if there are breaches.
"There are fines - either for the business not operating the legislation or if the customer has forged a document. Those fines are up to €2,500 and of course, there is the ultimate penalty of a cessation order for a business."
These policies will be in place by July 26 but no exact date has been set yet
"It's hard to set the exact date, it would be no later than the 26th - as soon as it's practicable. This will be dependent on the passage of the Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas over the coming days. And of course, the submission to the President for signature but I'd say no later than the 26th."
Proof of vaccination is acceptable for entry but what about those people that can prove they've recovered from Covid?
"You can apply to your GP for a recovery cert or you can apply to a testing centre after you've received that positive PCR test. That would be valid for 180 days. You can contact your GP to confirm that you've had Covid. The recovery cert is available 11 days after a positive test from a GP or a test centre and for no more than 180 days. They can also be requested from the HSE."
