Hospitality, entertainment and international travel will resume within weeks, the Taoiseach has confirmed.
Micheál Martin gave a national address this evening to announce that the government is taking “definite steps to enjoying normal times”.
As progress continues on vaccinations, restrictions on live events, indoor dining, household visits and weddings are all set to be eased over the coming months. Selected sport and cultural pilot live events will take place in June as a trial to assess public health risks. Non-essential international travel will resume from 19th July under the EU Digital Covid Cert.
Here is the plan:
From 2 June:
Accommodation services including hotels, B&Bs, self-catering and hostels can reopen. Services including leisure facilities, indoor restaurant and bar services must be restricted to overnight guests/residents only.
From 7 June
- the numbers permitted at organised outdoor events can increase to a maximum of 100 for the majority of venues, with a maximum of 200 for outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000
- cinemas and theatres can reopen
- partial reopening of Driver Theory Test Services (25,000 tests per month with related incremental opening of driver test centres)
- visiting indoors in private homes – visitors from one other household are permitted for unvaccinated households
- the numbers of guests attending wedding celebration or reception can increase to 25
- outdoor sports matches can recommence
- gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres can reopen for individual training only
- outdoor services in restaurants and bars can recommence
- outdoor amusement/theme parks/funfairs can reopen
- drive-in cinema and drive-in bingo can take place
- swimming lessons and classes can take place
From 5 July
Subject to maintaining progress with the virus, the following measures will come into effect:
- increased numbers permitted to meet indoors in private homes in line with Level 2 of the Framework – up to 3 households
- number of guests permitted at wedding receptions/celebrations increased to 50
- organised indoor events can recommence, permitting a maximum of 50 attendees at the majority of venues in pods/groups of up to 6, with arrangements to ensure no intermingling of groups. Max of 100 in larger venues where strict 2 metre seated social distancing and one-way controls for entry and exit can be implemented (includes business, training, conferences, events in theatres and other Arts events)
- the numbers permitted at outdoor organised events can further increase to a maximum of 200 for the majority of venues, with a maximum of 500 for outdoor stadia/venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000
- indoor training, exercise and dance activities can recommence in pods of up to 6
- return of indoor services in restaurants and bars
From 19 July
Subject to the prevailing public health situation, Ireland will operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU/EEA.
Next steps
Assuming continued progress, further easing of restrictions will be considered for August:
- further increases in the numbers permitted at both indoor and outdoor events
- maximum attendance at wedding receptions and celebrations to increase to 100
- public transport operating at full capacity
