The guidelines are set to be published this afternoon ahead of Friday’s Cabinet meeting on the easing of restrictions.
There is expected to be time limits on visits to pubs and restaurants when indoor dining returns, according to the guidelines expected to be published by Fáilte Ireland this afternoon.
The guidelines are expected to look at putting plans in place for the return of both indoor and outdoor dining over the coming months.
The guidelines are likely to be published on Tuesday ahead of Friday’s Cabinet meeting on the easing of restrictions.
Under the guidelines, tables are expected to be a minimum of one metre apart, there is also likely to be a maximum of six people to a table, and last year’s €9 substantial meal rules will also be scrapped.
There is also expected to be a time limit on indoor dining.
On Newstalk Breakfast on Tuesday the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) CEO Adrian Cummins said that the guidelines are “there or thereabouts, the same as last year” with the exception of no time limits on outdoor dining.
“Last year it worked really well for food businesses. The guidelines, we implemented them as best we could and we are looking forward to these being published so people can start to plan and prepare for reopening when we get a date to reopen restaurants, gastropubs and coffee shops across the country,” he said.
“These guidelines, we implemented them last year and they worked well for those businesses in the food industry.”
Cummins also said that he would like to see restrictions eased for all indoor restaurants at the same time as the reopening of hotels on 2 June.
He added that there is “no difference” between a hotel restaurant and a regular one.
“Obviously, we know hotels are going to open on June 2nd next week for indoors,” he said.
“We would like to open in line with hotels because there is no difference between a hotel restaurant and an independent restaurant next door to them.”
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