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19th Jul 2021

No new advice from NPHET to suggest delay of indoor dining as final decision due on Wednesday, says Simon Harris

Clara Kelly

simon harris covid

“We’re following public health advice in relation to the reopening agenda.”

There has been no new advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to suggest that the reopening of indoor dining should be delayed, according to Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris.

Cabinet Ministers will make a final decision on the decision to reopen for fully vaccinated cohorts at a meeting on Wednesday.

Cabinet is expected to sign off on the reopening this week, however, there have been concerns over the rapidly rising case numbers in the country as well as the highly transmissible Delta Covid-19 variant.

However, Minister Simon Harris told Newstalk on Monday that he expects the reopening to go ahead as planned.

He added that government will be “following public health advice” in relation to the reopening.

Harris said: “We’re following public health advice in relation to the reopening agenda.

“The Government hasn’t had new advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team that would suggest we should do anything other than proceed along the basis we’re planning to do so.”

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 Wednesday.

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