Ireland has been a model country for vaccine update with huge numbers of people receiving the jab across the country.
Despite a slow start to the rollout Ireland has now seen incredible uptake as supplies ramped up over the last number of months.
Currently over 3 million in Ireland are fully vaccinated meanwhile vaccination of children aged 12 and over has already begun.
Around 30,000 children aged 12 to 15 received a first Covid-19 vaccine in the first two days of the rollout to that age group.
HSE Chief Paul Reid said 90,000 children in the cohort had been registered for a vaccine appointment by early Sunday afternoon.
Now as Ireland is entering a new phase of the pandemic with the majority of the population set to be inoculated in the coming months there is much focus on the next restrictions that will be lifted.
Currently people in Ireland enjoy a relative level of freedom with the return of indoor dining and large scale sporting events such as the All-Ireland final.
Meanwhile International travel within Europe has once again also returned.
However there are still restrictions that affect our daily lives which some people are hoping to see the end of.
It has now been reported that health chiefs will begin examining the lifting of rules arounds things like social distancing and mask wearing in the near future.
Among the options discussed by officials was removing the requirement for distancing and mask-wearing outside or in private indoor settings.
Masks in other indoor settings may still be required however such as on public transport and in shops at least into next year.
But these restrictions being lifted would be totally dependent on the Covid-19 situation with pressure on hospitals being closely examined.
There are no immediate plans to scrap vaccine passes either.
Along with these restrictions there has been further calls from pub bosses to allow the extension of opening hours at pubs across the country. Currently all people have to be out of pubs and bars by 11.30pm.
There have also been widespread calls from the live music industry for the government to offer a definitive date for its return.
Matt McGranaghan, spokesman for the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) said they “have been summoned to a meeting with Minister Martin on Wednesday next but we hope it won’t be just another case of kicking the can down the road.”
The sector – which has been closed for over 510 days – wants to see a definite plan and date for re-opening of music and other entertainment events and venues from the Minister.
Mr McGranaghan added: “The Taoiseach needs to take this industry and those who work in it more seriously. He needs to intervene now and take control.
“He needs to put pressure on the relevant Departments to create the guidelines and the scenarios to re-opening this industry,”.
