A Government announcement is expected shortly on further restrictions to indoor dining.
Cabinet has agreed to postpone the re-opening of indoor dining for a number of weeks.
That's following a stark warning from the National Public Health Emergency Team about the Delta variant.
It will give time for a system to be worked out around how fully vaccinated people only could be given access to indoor dining.
The measures are set to be delayed until July 19th.
Some members expressed their anger at the cabinet meeting this morning, about how NPHET have handled the situation.
There's much work still to be done on how to develop a system that caters for only fully vaccinated people.
As reported last night re-opening of indoor dining has been delayed while Ministers work on a system to allow fully vaccinated people only to have access.
No clarity on how that will be done.... https://t.co/CgSwsTVYSj— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) June 29, 2021
700,000 Cases And 2,000 Deaths By September
NPHET’s warned the Government that in a worst case scenario, Ireland could see 700,000 covid cases and 2,000 deaths by September.
Ministers are now likely to delay the reopening of indoor dining by two weeks at least as a result.
They’re also considering a controversial proposal.
So that's to only allow those fully vaccinated to dine indoors when it does resume.
Minister Eamon Ryan's admitted this faces legal and practical problems.
"We'll have to consider it and look at how we manage it."
"But we will make progress and we will continue the re-opening of the country."
Meanwhile, The Restaurants Association of Ireland says the measure would be discriminatory and unworkable.
Also, The Licensed Vintners Association says that would put pubs and restaurants in "an impossible position."
It says unvaccinated workers would have to decide who is allowed in.
Very hard to argue with @lichamber’s point just now on @LunchtimeLiveNT that allowing only the vaccinated to eat and drink inside is effectively splitting the population and is both unjust and very difficult to enforce as a practical matter.
— Larry Donnelly (@LarryPDonnelly) June 29, 2021
However they are expected to give the green light to international travel.
So that's set to resume by July 19th.
Weddings look likely to have 50 guests once again next month.
500 will be allowed to attend outdoor events where the venue’s capacity is 5000.
A full announcement is due shortly.
