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.”
When asked why a one hour and 45 minute time limit would be put in place for indoor dining for fully vaccinated people despite unvaccinated people allowed to dine indoors in a hotel, Mr Martin said some activities were safer than others.
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.”
The Taoiseach said he did not accept the UK’s “let it rip" approach “that we have all of the vulnerable vaccinated and now let's allow people to get Covid.”
He said Covid-19 is “nasty” and can do a lot of damage to people and we should not underestimate the Delta variant.
He said: “We don't want people getting Covid...and I certainly don't want to be presiding over something that just sort of said it’s OK if young people get Covid..it’s not actually.
“Some will do fine and won't get any repercussions but 10% of all Covid cases are long Covid..
“It is with the best motives in the world that we are proceeding the way we’re proceeding.
“There is an end in sight here, it’s within our grasp, no question about that.
“Steady wins the battle in that respect.
“I hope we are wrong, I hope the forecasts are wrong with respect to the Delta variant..we shouldn’t underestimate it or its potential impact.”
Mr Martin was speaking at the launch of the Pathways to Work in Co Louth where he also defended his leadership of Fianna Fáil.
He said he has been "heartened" with the feedback from Fianna Fáil members after questions were raised over his leadership of the party following the "disappointing and concerning" outcome of the Dublin Bay South by-election.
