A final decision on indoor dining and drinking is expected tomorrow.
Pub and restaurant representatives will meet with government officials today (Tuesday, 20 July) over indoor hospitality guidelines ahead of a provisional scheduled reopening next week.
It is expected indoor hospitality will return next Monday for those who have been vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19, though this depends on President Michael D Higgins signing the necessary legislation.
The Health (Amendment No.2) Bill 2021 was passed by the Dáil and Seanad last week.
Speaking about the meeting today, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) Adrian Cummins told Morning Ireland: “We need to see the final document later today to dot the Is and cross the Ts, to make sure that everything that is within that is operational for our industry.”
Cummins said that the organisation has a “bone of contention” with government around the point where customers will have to present their verification of vaccination or Covid recovery.
This is particularly relevant for areas like food courts where extra employees will be required to enforce the rules.
“It should be at the point of sale in certain premises,” Cummins said.
He also told the programme that it is vital that when businesses reopen “hopefully for next week” that there will be “no going back”.
He also urged unvaccinated customers not to try to enter premises for indoor hospitality.
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