Summer reopening plans: Outdoor events, cinemas and more from June 7
Cinemas will also be permitted to reopen from June 7 under the recommendations. Picture: iStock
Outdoor events of 100 people, or up to 200 people in larger stadiums, will be allowed from June 7 under recommendations being discussed by members of Government tonight.
However, pubs and restaurants will not be allowed serve customers indoors until July 5.
Members of the Covid sub-committee are meeting tonight to discuss the further reopening of the country, including hospitality, sport and international travel.
Once approval is given by ministers tonight, the full Cabinet will approve the plan at a 12pm meeting tomorrow.
In somewhat of a surprise move, is understood the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has advised that an additional relaxation of measures can go ahead earlier than expected.
This includes the resumption of outdoor events of 100 people from the first week in June which could pave the way for larger outdoor weddings.
A maximum of 200 people will be allowed gather in larger stadia with a capacity of 5,000 people from June 7 under the recommendations.
Cinemas will also be permitted to reopen on this date.
There will be another increase in the number of attendees allowed at outdoor events from July 5 under the Nphet measures.
The numbers will increase to 200 attendees for the majority of outdoor venues but larger stadiums will be allowed organise events with up to 500 people.
Indoor events with a maximum of 50 people, or up to 100 people in larger indoor venues, will also recommence from this date and indoor dining will return.
July 5 has also been marked as the date for the return of indoor sports and exercise activities such as dance classes and team training.
Those planning a wedding will be allowed 50 guest at their wedding reception from July 5.
The Cabinet is expected to announce on what date Ireland will sign up to the EU Digital Green Cert, which will clear the way for international travel to recommence.
Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath confirmed it is expected that international travel will most likely return by July, as revealed by the Irish Examiner earlier this week.
He said: "We are taking on board the health advice from the Department of Health in relation to that issue, but I think there is a growing sense of confidence, and we can see a return to international travel within the confines of those arrangements in July," Mr McGrath said.
Speaking on RTÉ, he also indicated EU countries are likely to come off the mandatory quarantine list in their announcement tomorrow.
Hotels and guesthouses will be allowed open their doors again from June 2 and outdoor dining has been given the go ahead from Nphet for the following week.
Reacting to the news, the Restaurants Association of Ireland said it is heading to court at the earliest opportunity in order to seek equality of opportunity when it comes to reopening in line with Hotel Restaurants.
The Government’s decision to allow hotel restaurants open ahead of independent restaurants, gastro pubs and cafes is anti competitive, discriminatory and inequitable, the group told the .
Government and opposition TDs had called for a quicker reopening of some of the worst hit sectors including tourism and aviation ahead of tomorrow's planned announcement.
The final measures, which are expected to include plans to allow crowds back to pilot sporting events and music gigs, will be signed off at a full Cabinet meeting tomorrow afternoon.
In the Dáil, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar signalled that hundreds spectators would be allowed into GAA games and other sporting fixtures over the summer.
Mr Varadkar said: “I’m as keen as you to get back to watching a match and to get back in the stands and I’m increasingly confident that that’s going to be possible over the summer.
“We’ll make a decision on this at the Cabinet meeting on Friday but I can say that Minister Martin and Minister Chambers have worked up some plans to allow a number of trials of outdoor sporting events with spectators, thousands of spectators, to happen across June and July," he said.
The reopening of hotels and guesthouses
Outdoor hospitality allowed
Cinemas to reopen Crowds of up to 100 allowed at most outdoor events
Up to 200 people will be permitted to attend events in larger outdoor stadia with a capacity of 5,000
Restaurants and bars allowed to serve customers indoors
Indoor events up to a maximum of 50 people, or up to 100 people in larger indoor venues, will recommence
Indoor sports and other activities, such as dance classes or fitness training, to restart
50 guests allowed at wedding receptions
200 people will be allowed attend outdoor events and up to 500 people at larger stadia
5,000 people allowed attend outdoor venues or 25% of capacity, whichever is lower
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