Re-Opening Of Indoor Hospitality Will Be Delayed By At Least Two Weeks.

Tuesday, 29 June 2021 09:19

Minister says the modelling presented by NPHET on the Delta variant's potential is raising concern.

The re-opening of indoor dining will be delayed by at least two weeks after a late night meeting of Ministers last night.

Younger age groups are also set to be given a choice of what vaccine they will take.

Our Political Correspondent Seán Defoe reports:

Speaking in the early hours of this morning after the Cabinet sub-Committee meeting, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan says the modelling presented to Ministers of the Delta variant's potential is raising concern:

Cabinet's due to meet this morning to finalise the plans, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin making an official announcement this afternoon.

Junior Minister Niall Collins says indoor dining definitely won't reopen on July 5th as planned.

Michael O'Donovan, the chair of the Cork branch of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, says the delay is a big letdown for publicans.

Restaurateurs are "astounded and angered" by a further delay to reopening indoor dining.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland has criticised suggestions that only vaccinated people will be able to dine indoors when they are permitted to reopen.

It says the measure would be discriminatory and unworkable.

The World Health Organisation's Covid-19 Special Envoy says he disagrees with vaccine status being used to allow people access to venues.

Dr. David Nabarro says that could lead to inequality:

The Licensed Vintners Association say pubs and restaurants would be put in an impossible position of having unvaccinated workers deciding who can enter the premises.

The pub lobby group say a reopening of indoor dining should be delayed until July 19th in light of the concerns around the Delta variant, while adding it has no confidence that NPHET will recommend a reopening of indoor hospitality this summer. .