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Workers will be able to return to offices within weeks under plans discussed by senior Ministers as part of the roadmap for the phased easing of remaining Covid-19 restrictions.
Confirmations and communions are also to be allowed resume in September while there is to be a phased easing of restrictions on the number of people that can attend outdoor events.
The Cabinet Covid-19 subcommittee met for about four hours on Friday to develop the plan that will chart Ireland’s course out of pandemic restrictions.
The meeting will reconvene on Monday with final decisions on the measures and the timeline to be decided by the full Cabinet on Tuesday.
However, The Irish Times understands that Ministers agreed in principle that the return to offices can begin in September, though the date for this to start has not yet been signed off on. Confirmations and communions will also be allowed to be held again at some point next month.
Ministers were given what was described as a thorough presentation on the current Covid-19 situation at Friday’s meeting.
They heard that 87 per cent of adults are now fully vaccinated. However, they were told there is still a high prevalence of the Delta variant and that the latest roadmap will be planned in the knowledge that case numbers are still expected to peak.
The Irish Times understands that the possibility of using vaccine passes to increase the numbers allowed to attend theatre performances has been discussed. Currently audiences are restricted to 50 people.
The timing of any such move remains unclear, however.
Intentions
Ministers had earlier signalled their desire to see the changes to current regulations made.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has told the Government that more than 90 per cent of people over the age of 16 should be vaccinated fully before the next easing of pandemic measures is considered, however. This would mean that any major changes would be unlikely before October.
Amid growing pressure for an easing of the restrictions, the Cabinet subcommittee considered what could be eased in September.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly struck a note of caution ahead of the meeting, saying: “As always we want everything to open up as quickly as possible, but it has to be done safely. We don’t want a situation where things are moving too fast and a lot of extra people get very sick and in some cases people unfortunately die . . . Whatever we do it’s going to be done safely”.
However, he said vaccination rates are “incredibly high” with more than 90 per cent of adults partially inoculated and 85 per cent fully vaccinated.
“I don’t think we need to get up on a particular figure, be it 90 per cent, 87 per cent, 93 per cent. We’re getting there or thereabouts anyway.”
High case numbers
Green Party leader and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the Government has to be careful as the number of infections being reported daily remains high.
A further 1,866 cases of Covid-19 were reported on Thursday by the Department of Health. There were 314 patients in hospital with Covid-19 as of 8pm on Thursday, according to the latest Health Service Executive (HSE) figures. Sixty-one patients with the virus were in intensive care, with 26 requiring ventilation.
Also speaking before the meeting, Mr Ryan said the level of vaccine cover in the State was “very real” and the easing of restrictions can be “phased”.
“I think we can do a lot in September but the majority will obviously then happen in October and beyond.”
He said the return to offices needs to start in September, though “it’s not going to happen straight away” and this won’t be limited to people who are fully vaccinated.
Mr Ryan also said he will be pushing for a return to 100 per cent capacity on public transport from next week as this “makes sense” with the return to schools, colleges and offices.
He suggested confirmations and communions could also return on a phased basis with confirmations resuming first, and he said “we need to see the entertainment industry come back in a safe way”.
In remarks reported by RTÉ News, the Green Party leader said vaccine certs could be used as a means to allow people to go to concerts but this and their current use for indoor hospitality is “time limited”.
Musicians and artists
Minister for Culture Catherine Martin also spoke to reporters on her way into the meeting.
“I want to see an easing of restrictions in September for our musicians, for our artists,” she said. “I believe they have waited long enough and I want to see them getting back to performing and doing what they do best.”
Ms Martin has previously raised concern that waiting for the 90 per cent vaccination threshold could lead to an unacceptable delay in the reopening of the arts and live entertainment sector.
Asked about the Nphet advice, she said: “I’m looking for a return to music in September. I think that’s a really hard target to reach, and I think for our, for this sector in particular, there’s been a lot of changing the goalposts for them.
“I’m with them in saying enough is enough and can we perform again.”
On the prospect of Electric Picnic going ahead at the end of next month, she said: “That’s something I’ll be discussing with my colleagues today and I’ll be exploring all possible options. Obviously there’s a planning issue there as well but I want to see what we can do to facilitate it.”
On the same issue Mr Ryan said: “It seems to me it was Laois County Council had the call on it and they seem to be saying that there are certain difficulties.
“If they can be overcome then I’d be very glad to see it happen.”
Vaccine pass
Ms Martin said she is exploring what is possible in terms of indoor live entertainment and whether it will require a vaccine pass.
She said venues need to be able to fill about 80 per cent capacity to be viable. Ms Martin added: “At the minute we have silence in our music, I think we’ve had enough of that silence and I want to hear music again.”
Speaking earlier this week, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said he was “optimistic” the country would be in a position to move on from some of the current restrictions “in the near term”.
A large number of Covid-19 vaccination centres will again offer walk-in clinics over the weekend for both first and second doses, to encourage younger people to receive the vaccine.