The government is planning to write to senior church leaders to outline plans to allow Communions and Confirmations to resume in September.
The decision was taken at today’s meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Covid-19, which received an update on the current situation from the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, and HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid.
In a statement this evening the government said the final decision however will still depend on the public health situation at the time.
It noted the recent concerns expressed by church leaders about the health guidelines in relation to religious ceremonies, especially in relation to communions and confirmations.
It said it “hopes” to see those restrictions lifted in September, subject to the situation at that stage, and that it will “engage further” with relevant faith group leaders in the coming weeks.
In recent days, a number of bishops across the country have said they would defy public health guidelines and tell priests to start planning ceremonies in the coming weeks.
The Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian, has told Priests of the Diocese they can resume First Communions and Confirmations from next week, Friday 13th.
