“It’s not going to be a huge change, it’s going to be step by step.”
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has said that it will “take a bit of time” before indoor dining is allowed to resume.
Speaking to reporters on his way into a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Ryan said he expected digital travel certificates to go ahead as planned on July 19th, but that the rest of society would be opened across July and August.
When asked when he expected indoor dining to resume, he said that it will likely depend on data from the UK in relation to increased hospitalisations due to the delta variant.
“We’re going to get everyone vaccinated, back dining, able to socialise, it will just take a bit of time,” he said.
“It’s not going to be a huge change, it’s going to be step by step.”
Ryan also said that the EU Digital Covid Certificate is expected to be rolled out across Ireland from next week.
1.8 million people who have received both of their vaccines are expected to be issued the cert in the coming days.
People who got their Covid vaccine from the HSE are expected to get the cert via email, meanwhile, people who got their jab with a GP or pharmacy will receive a letter in the post with a code that can be scanned onto a smartphone.
Speaking to reporters at Government Buildings on Tuesday, Ryan said: “Next week they’ll start to be issued by email and by post and for everyone that needs it for international travel before 19 July.”
The EU Digital Green Certificate will allow people to travel anywhere in the EU provided they can prove they have been fully vaccinated, recovered from Covid-19, or have a negative Covid-19 PCR test.
While the pass came into effect throughout Europe last week, it won’t be implemented in Ireland until 19 July due to delays caused by the HSE cyber attack.
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