LAST UPDATE | 28 May 2021
ANOTHER FRIDAY, ANOTHER big announcement from the government about Covid-19 restrictions.
You’ll find a roundup piece detailing all the measures here.
This is our liveblog from earlier:
Good afternoon, Rónán Duffy here to bring you though the latest edition of lifting Ireland’s lockdown.
You may be aware of the sequence by now, as Cabinet discusses and usually rubber-stamps the plans that were essentially decided by the Covid sub-committee yesterday.
Those decisions were informed by public health advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) which itself had met the day previous.
As those various steps take place over the course of a number of days, much of the plans are leaked in advance of the announcement.
Our Political Correspondent Christina Finn has been on the phones and at the gates of Government Buildings to get those leaks and much of what we can expect from the announcement can be found here.
Some of the main things we can expect from the Taoiseach’s speech tonight are:
We’re now also hearing some details of sporting events that will be allowing spectators in the next month.
It includes, football, rugby, Gaelic games and horse racing:
On travel, not only has Transport Minister Eamon Ryan suggested that Ireland will sign up to the EU Digital Green Cert system from July, we also now know that France, Belgium and Luxembourg are also set to be removed from Ireland’s mandatory hotel quarantine list.
There’s already been some reaction to that news from the EU’s Justice Commissioner:
Regarding hotel quarantine rules in 🇮🇪, the Commission is closely monitoring the situation. We requested & received information on the criteria on which such measures are based. We are now in discussions with 🇮🇪 authorities to see how the lifting of measures can be facilitated.
— Didier Reynders (@dreynders) May 28, 2021
Under the plans, the EU Green Cert would certify that someone travelling within the EU has either been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, has a negative test result, or has recovered from Covid-19.
Member States may introduce their own measures on top of this, so we will have to wait and see exactly how Ireland is planning on adopting the system.
Something we will hopefully have some clarity on later.
One travel change we will not be seeing is an immediate return of the Common Travel Area with Britain.
Speaking earlier today, Tánaiste Leo Vardakar said that due to concerns about the India variant, there will still be restrictions on people travelling from Britain to Ireland.
“There are real concerns about the prevalence of the Indian variant in Britain. It’s now the dominant variant of Britain. Over 50% of cases appear to be this B.1617 variant. That’s something we’re concerned about,” Varadkar told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland
For that reason, we’re not in the position to restore the Common Travel Area just yet.
So, far about 7,000 cases of the India variant have been identified in the UK, with 97 in Ireland.
At present, there is no evidence that the India variant is more resistant to vaccines, but there is some evidence that it may be more transmissible than other strains.
Cabinet meeting has concluded, all the expected easing of measures confirmed.
Taoiseach’s address to come at 6pm but this is what we’re looking at:
Cabinet signs off on:
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) May 28, 2021
International travel from 19 July
Hotels open on 2 June
Outdoor service for pubs and restaurants from 7 June
Indoor service in pubs and restaurants from 5 July
Gyms open on 7 June
Cinemas open 7 June (max capacity 50)
Theatres reopen in June (max 50)
Oh an one more exciting titbit is that the venues for the trial live events are set to include the Phoenix Park and Iveagh Gardens.
Speaking on the way out of the Cabinet meeting, Eamon Ryan said the risks associated with the reopening plans are “low to medium” but that we have “be careful, particularly next month”.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan urges caution as he leaves Cabinet meeting to sign off on reopening plans. Gov will “pump the brakes” if necessary. @PA pic.twitter.com/84lobYeJb0
— James Ward (@newswardie) May 28, 2021
The plans for hospitality have been known for some days now, with the only new update last night being the date of 5 July for indoor dining.
Earlier this week, guidelines put together by Fáilte Ireland were both welcomed and criticised.
When outdoor dining and drinking begins again on 7 June, outdoor tables will be limited to six people.
The government is already said to be reviewing the guidelines “in a few weeks time”.
The plan has not yet been officially confirmed but there is some reaction coming through.
Paul Murphy TD of People Before Profit, who has advocated for a ‘zero-Covid’ approach to virus suppression, is raising concern about the return of incoming travel in July.
He has tweeted specific concern about the spread of the India variant in the UK
Govt is taking risk with people's lives by re-opening travel with UK in July.
— Paul Murphy (@paulmurphy_TD) May 28, 2021
Indian variant is now the dominant variant there. Vaccines are only 33% effective after first dose.
It's a race between double vaccination and Indian variant. If we re-open, we will likely lose.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly addressed this question earlier today on his way into Cabinet:
The UK obviously is our closest neighbour, and we’re looking very carefully about how we can facilitate travel between here and the UK but being mindful, obviously, of the fact that we are still in the middle of a pandemic, we do have the Indian variant. So one of the things we’re looking at very closely is ensuring that the existing measures which are which are quite substantive in and of themselves are used to the maximum extent possible.
How are we? Garreth MacNamee taking over from Rónan Duffy as we move ever closer to 6pm when Micheál Martin is expected to address the nation.
First thing’s first. Our intrepid political reporter has the latest on what we can expect this evening – and for once in a very long time, it looks to be good news.
In other Covid news, the Department of Health confirmed a further 467 cases of the disease in Ireland.
The Department of Health said there are 99 people in hospital being treated for Covid-19, with 38 of those patients in intensive care units.
We are about 15 minutes away from Micheál’s speech to the nation.
We will be bringing you the latest as it happens.
Micheál said he is satisfied that the decisions of his Government up to this date have been the right ones.
On vaccines – he says the take-up has been “extraordinary”.
“The Irish people trust the vaccines,” he says.
More than 2.6 million vaccines have been administered so far.
“Given our progress and the current level of the virus in society – all the measures we hoped to introduce will go ahead,” Martins says.
2 June – Hotels are back open.
7 June – outdoor bars and restaurants.
7 June – up to 200 people at outdoor events, cinemas, and theatres to reopen. Phased reopening of day centres for older people.
Martin has confirmed:
5 July – the return of indoor services in bars and restaurants. 100 attendees indoor venues. Further increase in outdoor attendance at events, and a further relaxation of the 50% capacity levels on public transport. Up to 50 guests able to attend weddings.
5 August – A further increase in numbers attending outdoor events. Up to 100 guests at weddings.
Pubs and bars will be offered a once-off grant to help them get back on their feet.
Martin says he is committed to rebuilding “society and economy”.
From 19 July, a return to international travel will occur, Martin confirms.
He said that “we must remain vigilant” against the virus.
So here’s a bit of a round-up:
From 7 June
From 5 July:
From 5 August:
Micheál Martin, Leo Varadkar and Eamon Ryan are now taking part in a joint press conference.
Leo is talking about supports for business which have really struggled during the pandemic.
“They have needed a lot of support. That will continue.”
Micheál Martin on working arrangements:
“The public health advice is that workers should work from home when possible. NPHET says this practice should continue.”
Responding to questions from the press, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he expects a staggered return to workplaces from August.
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