Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that some of Ireland's Covid-19 restrictions could ease sooner than expected as the vaccine continues to be rolled out.
The Fianna Fail leader said that many things that were opened at the start of June had not been expected to happen so quickly, and that more could follow suit in the coming months.
And the Taoiseach said that a return to offices could be one of the changes that could happen earlier than anticipated in August.
Speaking in Cork on Tuesday, Mr Martin said: “As you have seen all along the way we were able to do things in June that we didn't signal we would do a month earlier.
"We were able to do more than we signalled and likewise, I think by the end of this month we might be able to do more than we signalled for August and that could mean the return of some workers to the offices by the end of August."
During the event, Mr Martin also said we could see more people at matches and gigs next month as the road out of lockdown could be “accelerated” if everything goes to plan.
He spoke about the upcoming pilot sport and cultural events and said that if these were successful this month, that we could see an acceleration and greater crowds at matches and concerts in July.
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Mr Martin said: “In terms of the vaccine, the vaccine is very effective and we’re seeing a fall in the hospitalisation numbers, the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) numbers are well down, they’re going down.
“The impact is really positive, so let’s keep with this…… we’ve just got to take it step by step, as we have been.
“I think every month we’ve made progress.
“I heard the Minister for Sport [Jack Chambers] outlining the conditions for trial sports events.
“That is about seeing what’s possible and hopefully expanding and opening up sports for spectators in July.
“So I think if the trial events go well, I think then we can look forward, perhaps, to accelerating spectators at various events.
“I think that’s very important because I think it could make a great summer for people.”
Just 271 Covid cases were confirmed in Ireland on Tuesday, the lowest in months, with hope building that the vaccines will start to have a huge impact in the coming weeks.
