"There has always been difficulty in endeavouring to differentiate between one sector and another."
Micheál Martin has said that hospitality workers won't be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine ahead of the reopening of indoor hospitality later this month.
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Martin said that there would be "difficulty" in differentiating between sectors.
When asked if there were currently any plans from government to prioritise hospitality workers ahead of the reopening, he said that the "key issue" will be ramping up the vaccine rollout as a whole over the coming weeks and months.
"Generally speaking, the response has been very positive in respect of applications for the Jansen vaccine in pharmacies so I think that that is the feedback that we're receiving," he said.
"There has always been difficulty in endeavouring to differentiate between one sector and another and one group and another.
"The key issue here will be in terms of the rollout of the vaccination programme and currently, in pharmacies, it's going very well. In that framework I think it should be possible to cover a lot of people."
The government is now aiming to have the legislation to allow vaccinated people and under 18s accompanied by vaccinated people to eat and drink indoors at restaurants and pubs passed by the Dáil and Seanad later this week, with Cabinet having already approved it.
Speaking on Monday,
Leo Varadkar described the legislation as "our best opportunity to get indoor hospitality reopened", also confirming that younger people working in hospitality who have yet to receive a Covid-19 vaccine will also be allowed to "get a drink or have a meal".
However, he added that this may only apply to the "place in which they work".
“They will of course be able to get a drink or have a meal after or before work in the place in which they work," he said.
