The Tánaiste has said he would prefer to see the limit gone.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said the 105-minute time limit on certain indoor diners and drinkers is “under review”.
Fáilte Ireland guidelines on indoor hospitality were released in May, stating that a time limit of 105 minutes will apply in cases where a two-metre social distancing of tables cannot be maintained.
This time limit is not required if there are two metres between tables indoors.
However, on Tuesday evening, Varadkar was quizzed on Newstalk’s The Hard Shoulder as to the reason for the time limit.
He responded: “That is under review by the way, so that’s one of the things that the working group under [Tourism Minister] Catherine Martin is going to examine before we open.”
As to the reasons for the rule, Varadkar explained: “It’s to do with contact tracing. It’s to do with reducing the amount of time anyone spends in an indoor space.
“It’s not something that was invented by my Department or the Department of Tourism. It’s advice from NPHET… I understand why it is there.”
Asked if he would prefer to see the time limit gone, the Tánaiste replied: “Yes, but I would prefer to do that with the support of our public health advisers, rather than as a political decision.”
Indoor hospitality legislation, including a Covid pass system, was signed off by Cabinet on Monday.
The government is now aiming to have the legislation, which will allow vaccinated people and under 18s accompanied by vaccinated people to access indoor hospitality, passed by the Dáil and Seanad this week.
Under the legislation, people who have received both Covid-19 vaccines and people who have recovered from Covid-19 in the last six months can both dine indoors.
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