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LAST UPDATE | 30 Aug 2021
THE UNWINDING OF the remaining Covid-19 restrictions will begin next week, Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath has confirmed.
The Covid Cabinet sub-committee is currently meeting to discuss the of the government’s new roadmap for lifting restrictions, with a full Cabinet meeting taking place tomorrow.
A formal announcement will be made during a live address by the Taoiseach tomorrow afternoon.
Speaking on his way into the sub committee meeting a short time ago, McGrath said the final easing of Covid measures will begin next week.
He said there will not be any “big declaration” from the Taoiseach tomorrow that the battle with Covid is over, “because it is not,” he added.
However, he said there will be a move away “in a gradual sense from a rules and regulations based system” with the emphasis shifting to a “personal responsibility” approach.
McGrath said he is confident that from next week “we can start to make progress in unwinding”, which he said will happen on a phased basis over a number of weeks, into October.
There will be an early return of communions, confirmations, as well as many indoor activities that have been closed now for a number of months. Transport is also to return to full capacity on 1 September.
A level of uncertainty does remain, said McGrath, who highlighted that the government will have to retain the right to change their approach “to reflect the circumstances as we face them, if the circumstances change in a significant way”.
The government will “have to respond to that”. It would only be prudent that they do so in order to protect the public health, said the minister.
The government trusts the public, said McGrath, stating that they “have done all that we have asked of them”.
Speaking to reporters earlier, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said most Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted by October.
Ryan said that he expects most Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted in October, while September will see a more “flexible” approach.
Staggered opening and closing times for hospitality, and a staggered return to offices would “make sense”, Ryan added.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said there is much to be optimistic about. He told reporters that the public should remain vigilant. The minister said they are keeping a close eye on rising cases in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Live events
The comments come as representatives of the live events industry expressed “anger and frustration” that a date for reopening, as part of that roadmap, has not yet been finalised.
Among the sectors that the Government will be discussing easing restrictions for are the events and entertainment sector, nightclubs, hospitality, international travel, the return to offices, and sacraments such as communions and confirmations.
The Event Industry Alliance (EIA) said this morning that they called for the full reopening of indoor and outdoor events for the fully vaccinated, along with other industry supports.
A meeting between stakeholders and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Culture Minister Catherine Martin was held earlier this morning.
In a statement following the meeting, the group said:
“Despite the EIA specifically writing to Government in advance of this meeting, highlighting our sectors’ expectations, and requesting a confirmed reopening date for full capacity events, and a strategy to achieve same – the Government failed to provide either.”
“We continue to be disappointed and frustrated at the total lack of urgency on the part of Government for the reopening of the Event Industry, which represents 35,000 people and is worth 3.5 billion to the Irish economy. This is despite being the only sector mandated to remain closed for nearly 18 months, far beyond any other industry or sector within Ireland. ”
‘Very positive’ engagement
Speaking following the meeting, Minister Catherine Martin said there was “very positive engagement”. She said she optimistic that a phased reopening of live music will commence in early September.
The Minister said the government will provide the live entertainment sector with “specific dates” for reopening on Tuesday.
Martin added that vaccine certs will initially be required for indoor events. The Taoiseach confirmed last week that certs will not be required for outdoor events.
The sector has been largely shut throughout the pandemic, with bosses calling on Government to allow it to return as soon as possible.
Asked about Electric Picnic, she said ongoing engagement was happening with the relevant government departments.
Ryan says one of the main sticking points to be discussed are the dates for the live events sector pic.twitter.com/9ScnfX0XX5
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) August 30, 2021
Meanwhile, the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland has said that the roadmap to be announced tomorrow must confirm reopening dates and deliver the plan to achieve full capacity and supports.
“Ensuring the full reopening of the industry to 100% capacity, guaranteeing personal supports, and creating and extending existing supports, will prove Government’s commitment to this industry as declared by an Taoiseach.
“It is vital that the Government commits to its understanding of the challenges facing this sector, and delivers solutions in the next two weeks,” the group said.
Specific dates due
It comes after Minister Simon Coveney told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland earlier today that “the Government wants to open up, and to do that as safely as we can.”
“One thing we will definitely do tomorrow is give people specific dates so they can plan their businesses and lives around dates in the future.
“That’s what the industry is asking for,” he said.
Dan McDonnell, chairman of the Entertainment Industry Alliance, said the sector wants to reopen no later than September.
He said: “What we’re expecting today, and what we outlined in writing last week, is a safe reopening date as early as possible in September.
Not being pushed to the end of September, and there’s no reason why we can’t open immediately with the use of a vaccine cert.
“What we’re pushing for is a safe reopening, for the fully vaccinated to attend full capacity, indoor and outdoor events immediately, to be honest, because we’ve been waiting long enough.”
He called for “continued meaningful engagement” from Government with the sector.
“After 17 months, it’s taken us quite a while to get them to the table. And we want to make sure that this isn’t a ‘tick the box’ exercise, that it’s actually the start of proper meaningful engagement for our sector,” he said.
88.1% of over-18s are now fully vaccinated in Ireland.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 30, 2021
Very strong performance by the Vaccine Task Force, HSE and all involved in our rollout.
Vaccination is giving us the protection we need against severe illness - so please get one as soon as you are offered.
Green party leader Eamon Ryan confirmed on Sunday that public transport is to return to 100% capacity from Wednesday.
Communions and confirmations are also set to be given the go-ahead this month.
In a statement on Friday, the Government also said it would engage with the organisers of Electric Picnic over the weekend, with Martin saying she was exploring “all possible options” for the music festival to go ahead.
The Chief Medical Officer has said he would not have concerns about the event going ahead from a public health perspective, if it is limited to only the fully vaccinated.
The latest figures show that 88.1% of Irish adults are now fully vaccinated, among the highest rates in Europe.
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“Ministers is meeting”
Is them?
@Sean Ryan: the press association didn’t use spellcheck or the journal didn’t check it
@Sean Ryan: Ali G wrote the article.
@Sean Ryan: my cousin is in Trinity College Dublin. He doesnt know what a noun is! I learnt it in 3rd clas
@Alan Campbell: I don’t know what a tracker mortgage is!
@Ed: miswrote the article
@Alan Campbell: what’s he doing in Trinity feeding the pigeons
@Anthony Doyle: Hopefully being taught what a question mark is.
I thought the meeting was supposed to provide dates and clarity? How much more kicking down the road needs to happen? Open up now and that includes Electric Picnic. Time to get on with things and let people assess their own personal risk factors.
@Toon Army: Very questionable the salutes some of the people in the crowd in the picture are doing???
@bread of heaven: Fair point. Interesting no source provided!
@Toon Army: open up… I agree, with vaccine passports and negative tests and some social distancing and other measures, then we can open up and see how things go. The biggest risk is caused by people who continue to socialise with symptoms and fail to take precautions with is why we need the safety measure in place so we can all live with with covid and not just the young and healthy and unvulnerable
Remember the 18 dead last week here and the 51 people who died in Northern Ireland – I am sure they would have liked to live with and not die with covid.
Too late now…Summer is over
@Aire Dezamba: I would be more concerned about 100% capacity on public transport and the extra commuters travelling to school and college up and down the country. If the preliminary data about the delta strain is correct, October and November could get very messy. Masks will have to be mandated a while longer in public and I’m not convinced that the measures being taken by most schools, in particular primary schools, go far enough to keep the virus at bay. Don’t get me wrong, I hate wearing a mask and am as fed up of the restrictions as the next fella, but there’s no point cheering for the goal when it’s not in the back of the net yet. So yeah summer may be over but covid ain’t.
@Adrian O’Donnell: Well said pal… great to see an intelligent and considered response on here for once
@Adrian O’Donnell: Norma & NPHET have stated that Schools are perfectly safe. Unlike Tonys ‘The virus loves alcohol’ comments, it seems the Virus hates Education.
@Adrian O’Donnell: i would disagree completely – the country had already managed Covid while there were no vaccines with the longest set of restrictions in europe – we have 88% of people vaccinated – we have to accept covid is going be around for years to come much like flu – we have to accept people may be infected and trust the science and medical professionals that we can manage this – September is as good a time as any to let people resume colleges schools and work – there is a end to shift the narrative onto personal responsibility and away from thinking we should be making people anxiety ridden and the veiled implication of more serious infections and new lockdowns – there will never be a time to remerge to normality again if we constantly keep fear mongering and worry – how come countries like Denmark etc are moving to 100% removal of all restrictions but we seemingly think oh we have to drage everything out much more slowly and keep fear going – time to move on imo
@Dave Hammond: Denmark have more of their population vaccinated than us 72% v 68%. They also don’t share a border with a Covid disaster zone like NI nor do they share the busiest travel routes in Europe with the UK, a higher immigrant population here also 12.5% v 10% etc etc.
Does that include the segregation of non vaccinated people.
@Ciaran O ‘Reilly: Hopefully yes
@Ciaran O ‘Reilly: yes!!!!!!!! They need to be segregated to protect everyone. I’d suggest an open trailer attached to the back of every bus.
As long as the same punters are willing to go back to their offices, what’s the harm. People are moving on and learning to live with it now
This is turning into an absolute joke at this stage….
Release the Kraken
@Chewey Bacca: riiiiiiiiiiiissssssse
@Chewey Bacca: release the Karens
‘Government to provide specific dates’? Seems we’ll probably now have a Department for Relationships set up and a Minister to oversee the process. Yes indeed, dating culture has definitely changed over the years…
Please include sports events like cycling, running etc.
Toss ers the lot of them
So should we stop planting our salads on our south facing windows? Asking for a friend.
@Gary C: looks like ER has gotten a promotion from the green scene and has gone into communications on behalf of the CMO. CMO doesn’t know yet and the message isn’t based on any facts but it sounds good if you have invested in office space of are a landlord in his constituency !
@Gary C: I’d be getting the sprouts in the gorund for Christmas
@Gary C: I’d be getting the sprouts in the ground for Christmas
@DJ François: you can say that again- that’s a lot of sprouts and farting.
Will this roadmap also include indoor music such as in pubs etc. or will the stamp a very narrow definition on what an event is, I wonder.
Open up & up & up….Sorry…I’ll get me jacket!
Those still living in fear. Those who love lockdowns, please stay at home. Please stay at home with your fear and let the rest of us get on with it
What will all the covid deniers do now?
@JustMeHere: probably the same as all the lockdown lovers, flatten the curvers, another two weekers, and all who still want to hide away. Sod all.
@JustMeHere: complain about concert apartheid or whatever you’re having yourself. Stvpid is as stvpid does.
@GrumpyAulFella: $tup!d is trying to imply there are no restrictions on an article about easing restrictions…… Good man grumps
I wish Stephen Donnelly would insist that the vaccinated staff with underlying issues, return to work. It’s appalling that they are still out of work while those of us who are working fill the gaps in rosters and no extra manpower. I feel cheated.
“We don’t like gettin involved to be honest, it’s a lot of work and people are always angry at us so… so you’re on your own now.”
I say “Let her rip ! “
@Dave McCabe: we heard you the first time.
Let her rip !
i cannot for the life of me understand why they are only now coming to the realisation that forcing everyone onto the streets all at the same time with limited capacity on transport is one of the more idiotic rules in the name of public health – a chimpanzee could see that this increases risks as crowds are are unnecessarily forming – this bs has been known since last xmas and they are only addressing this now – sometimes you really have to wonder about this country
Brilliant! Well done to everyone getting vaccinated so we can all go back to normal
At last there is light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel.
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