Pre-Christmas 'reprieve' may see pubs and restaurants open if Covid-19 rate falls

Cabinet ministers have voiced strong support for the hospitality sector to be allowed to open 'for a defined period' in December, allowing 'wet' pubs and restaurants to open in the run-up to Christmas under Covid-19 restrictions. Picture: Getty

A two-week “reprieve” to allow pubs and restaurants to open before Christmas is seen as desirable by several members of the Government.

As part of the plans being developed for when the country exits level 5 lockdown restrictions, the Irish Examiner has confirmed that should the rate of Covid-19 transmissions drop sufficiently within the next week or so: