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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has hinted that in mid-September the “wet pubs” could be allowed to reopen and more spectators attend open-air sporting events.
When asked whether the publication of the new government roadmap on September 14 would effectively mean that the reopening of drinks-only pubs to patrons and sports fields to spectators would be delayed at least until the end of the month, he said no It was like that. a correct analysis.
“(It is) not necessarily (like that) in terms of retracement until the end of September, he said. That is not a correct analysis. “
Martin told reporters on Friday that the government’s new roadmap would reinstate the roadmap to allow the economy and society to reopen, “protecting lives and livelihoods.”
He said the previous roadmap, which expired in August, had served its purpose well, but that the country was now moving into a new phase.
“I think we are seeing a longer term situation living with Covid-19 and dealing with lives and livelihoods.”
He said the key priority of getting one million students back to school by September had been achieved and that now the focus would be on health services. He said there were “big challenges” during the winter season, including the flu season, and non-Covid medications and diagnostics.
“I understand that people are getting fatigued with Covid 19 and all that it brings. We are eager to work with people and the different sectors of society and the economy to allow them to move to a new phase to face it, ”he said.
New laws
Responding to the confusion surrounding new laws requiring pubs and restaurants to withhold individual details of food consumption, Martin said it was “exaggerated” to claim it was a communications calamity.
“The government has no interest in knowing what people eat,” he said, saying the regulations had been designed to deal with rogue operators who were serving drinks but not food. Like other ministers, he insisted that it would not place an additional burden on innkeepers and restaurateurs.
He also said regulations would soon become redundant, once so-called ‘wet bars’ were allowed to reopen.
“Communications could have been better (around regulations),” he admitted, but added that it had been interpreted. He rejected the suggestion by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly that it was a responsibility of the government, saying it was not fair to blame one individual as the decision on this issue belonged to the entire government.
When asked how the new regulations would treat pub crawls and binge drinking, Martin pointed to the personal responsibility that applies to everyone in relation to their behavior.
“We don’t want to regulate people’s behavior in a microscopic way. We want to achieve a fair situation for all those who are operating ”.
The Taoiseach was speaking at APC headquarters in Cherrywood, a facility where ae bing vaccines were developed.
He said that even if the vaccines were available by the end of the year, it would take a long time to manufacture them in sufficient quantities globally.
“It will take at least until the end of 2021 before we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, we have to learn to live with it. “
When asked about the government’s decision to nominate Mairéad McGuinness and Andrew McDowell as candidates for the position of EU Commissioner for Ireland, Mr. Martin said that the discussion in government had always revolved around two names . He added that it is up to the EU commissioner, Ursula Von der Leyen, to decide which portfolio will be allocated.
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