Indoor Dining May Return As Soon As Next Week.

The Cabinet meets today to finalise plans.

Indoor dining is set to return as early as next week after plans were agreed by the Cabinet.

Ministers have approved legislation to allow people who are fully vaccinated or who have recovered from Covid to eat indoors.

Our Political Correspondent Seán Defoe reports:

"Ministers meet again this morning to discuss what date indoor dining can resume but it will be before July 26th, according to the Tánaiste.

Dining will be for fully vaccinated people, or those who've recovered from Covid in the past six months.

The Digital Covid Cert will be proof of vaccination which should be delivered to all fully vaccinated people by next Tuesday at the latest.

There will be fines of up to 2,000 euro for forging a document, and potential fines for premises not carrying out checks.

Other documents will be accepted from people traveling here from abroad.

Children under 18 who are not vaccinated will be allowed to dine indoors.

It's likely time limits will apply to indoor dining unless tables are spaced more than 2 metres apart.

Ministers have said detailed guidance will issue from Fáilte Ireland for pubs and restaurants in the coming days.

There are provisions in the bill approved to allow people to access indoor dining with a negative Covid test, but the Government says more work is needed on that.

It hopes the bill will pass all stages in the Oireachtas this week."

Q&A: How will indoor dining work? https://t.co/U47y64HlQb

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) July 13, 2021

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar says distancing between tables will remain in place

The Minister for Tourism, Media, Sport, Arts, Gaelteacht and Culture, Catherine Martin says, the new measures will be strictly monitored by compliance officers.

Oireachtas Health Committee heading for a vote at 12.30 on whether to waive pre-legislative scrutiny of the new laws on indoor dining.

Sources said there was "no detail" on enforcement given by officials and it'll be "unworkable". Govt members have a majority to force through

— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) July 13, 2021

The Health Minister says restaurant and pub owners that breach indoor dining rules will be sanctioned.

There will be fines of up to €2,500 for forged documents or for premises that are not checking certs.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Stephen Donnelly says the full details will be published soon

.