Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has indicated he doesn’t believe there’s a need to hit a specific vaccine target before the remaining Covid-19 rules can be lifted.
That is despite NPHET proposing that over 90% of people aged over 16 years should be fully jabbed before significant remaining restrictions are lifted.
Cabinet Ministers are currently meeting with Dr Tony Holohan, NPHET members and HSE boss Paul Reid.
Speaking on his way into the Cabinet sub-committee meeting on Friday morning, Minister Donnelly told the Irish Mirror: “I don’t think we need to get up on a particular figure be it 90%, 80%, 93% - we’re getting there or thereabouts anyway and huge credit again to all of our vaccination staff but really huge credit for people all over Ireland.”
He said vaccination “is essential” in terms of the economy recovering as well as people protecting themselves and those around them.
He said the Government would have to look at concerning trends in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Minister Donnelly would not be drawn on what restrictions he believed could be relaxed in September.
But his Cabinet colleague and Coalition leader Eamon Ryan said he'd like to see some immediate restrictions relaxed.
He said perhaps Confirmations and Communions could return in phases next month but said he’d be pushing for full capacity for public transport from next week.
He also endorsed Electric Picnic going ahead if Laois County Council could overcome difficulties.
Minister Ryan added: “Hopefully on the path we’re on, we are seeing our way out of most restrictions in that six week timeframe that Tony Holohan set out.”
Minister Catherine Martin signalled she believed the vaccine target set by Dr Holohan would be difficult to achieve and said she will push for the live entertainment industry to reopen next month.
