Paul Hosford: Hope replaces caution as Government unveils plan to reopen the country

The announcement gave rise to cautious optimism that there may be a path out of the pandemic, but we are not quite there yet, writes Paul Hosford

Taoiseach Micheál Martin addresses the nation on the plan to reopen the country. 

Whereas "caution" was once the watchword of these state of the nation addresses, it is now very much "hope".

After two Nphet briefings in a row described as "surprisingly optimistic", Ireland's Government can see a way out of the nightmare of the last 15 months. With vaccination numbers increasing, delays notwithstanding, Taoiseach Micheál Martin this evening gave us a glimpse of normality returning.