'Hope is returning': Ireland's PM sets out key dates for lifting COVID lockdown

Some lockdown restrictions in Ireland are to be lifted in the coming weeks, the country’s prime minister has said.

Micheál Martin declared that “hope is returning” as he made the announcement in a TV address to the nation, saying the government’s strategy “is working” and “because of your hard work and sacrifices, we are in a better place”.

He said: “Clearly the overriding priority is the continued successful rollout of the vaccine”, adding “the list of options available to us continues to grow”.

Mr Martin said more than one and half million doses of a coronavirus vaccine have been administered.

From 10 May:

• Hairdressers, barbers, beauticians will be able to reopen for customers with appointments only, and people will be able to travel between counties.

• An increase in the number of people that can meet outdoors for social/recreational purposes, including in private gardens – maximum of three households or six people from any number of households. This limit of six does not include their children aged 12 or younger

• Click and collect for non-essential retail can resume.

• Museums, libraries and galleries can reopen.

• And a maximum of 50 people will be allowed at weddings and funerals.

• Indoor private home visiting is permitted (without masks or social distancing) in the following cases, under what is being called a “vaccine bonus”:

• Fully vaccinated people can meet indoors with other fully vaccinated people as long as there are no more than three households present.

• Fully vaccinated people can meet indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household, provided that they are not at risk of severe illness and no more than three households are present.

From 17 May:

• All retail will be allowed to reopen.

From 2 June – subject to the public health situation at the time:

• Hotels, B&Bs, self-catering and hostels can be open again.

From 7 June – also subject to conditions:

• Bars and restaurants can open outside in groups of up to six customers.

• Outdoor sports matches can be played again but with no spectators.

• Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres can reopen for individual training only.

Looking ahead to July and beyond, Mr Martin said he hoped to see aviation and tourism get back to business, and students back on campus.

“We can do all of these things and more,” he said, so long as the country remains “careful” as it eases restrictions.

No dates were given for indoor hospitality, indoor sports matches, mass gatherings and international travel.

A statement from the PM’s office said: “Today the government decided to move ahead with the Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead plan.

“We are now in the early stages of the recovery phase of the pandemic.

“The national vaccination programme is well advanced and thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Irish people, there has been a marked improvement in the status of the virus in the community.

“The decision is based on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), that a phased reopening over May and June, with an emphasis on outdoor activity and a moderate increase in social contact, can be considered low to medium risk.

“This allows us to continue through the recovery phase, focusing on what is safest and generates the most benefit and with a focus on outdoors activities – both social and economic. Think safe, think outdoors – this must be our theme for the summer of 2021.”

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