Much public scrutiny had greeted the decision to allow 25 people to attend weddings, but only 10 people at funerals.
Cabinet has agreed to increase the number of people allowed attend funerals under Level 5 restrictions from 10 to 25.
From midnight on Wednesday, for a six-week period, the entire country will move to Level 5 of the government’s Living with Covid framework, which had stipulated that only 10 people would be permitted to attend funerals.
Speaking on Monday night, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed, however, that 25 people would continued to be allowed to attend weddings, prompting people to wonder why there was a discrepancy between the two.
Former Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen tweeted on Monday night that he had contacted both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to ask that 25 people be allowed attend funerals while the country was under Level 5 restrictions.
Have contacted Taoiseach & Tánaiste asking that if 25 can celebrate a wedding, surely 25 rather than 10 can grieve at loved ones funeral. Hope it can be done.
— Barry Cowen (@CowenBarry) October 19, 2020
Cowen tweeted on Tuesday morning to say that the suggestion had been agreed upon by Cabinet and labelled it a “compassionate and welcome acknowledgement” that the issue was addressed so quickly.
I’m informed presently that the cabinet have agreed with my suggestion that the number of attendees at a funeral has been increased from 10 to 25. It’s a compassionate and welcome acknowledgement that this was address so quickly pic.twitter.com/9Np83cwMRH
— Barry Cowen (@CowenBarry) October 20, 2020
The decision to increase attendance at funerals is expected to be confirmed by government later today.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
