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The government expects to reopen all pubs by the middle of this month and is finalizing a new set of guidelines that will be shared with publican organizations in the coming days.
It is understood that the reopening of the pubs will be subject to strict regulation and inspection, and will coincide with the publication of the Government’s plan for the next phase of managing the Covid-19 pandemic – the so-called “living with Covid” plan – on 14 of September.
Drafts of the Health Department plan have been distributed and are the subject of intense discussion, with some sources believing that it is too restrictive.
It is also understood that the new plan will reformulate the relationship between the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) and the Government, with more collaboration and communication between the two parties on public health measures.
Senior figures in government are eager to move away from the model in which Nphet is seen as making public health recommendations and the government is diluting them.
There were another 98 confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported in the state on Friday, but no more deaths. No Covid-19 death has been recorded in the state since August 22.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Friday that 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.
Calamity
Responding to criticism 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, adding that the regulations had been designed to deal with rogue operators who were serving drinks but not food.
Furthermore, Sports Minister Catherine Martin has asked the heads of sports organizations to examine the international tests of spectators returning to events and to present a case that will be presented to health officials as part of the preparation of the government’s new Covid roadmap later this month.
It is understood that the issue was discussed in a meeting with the heads of the main sports organizations, including GAA, IRFU and FAI.
Meanwhile, the innkeepers have privately warned Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys of thousands of possible permanent layoffs as of mid-month.
In light of the pandemic, the government suspended rules on layoffs until September 17 in an effort to prevent permanent job losses. This meant that an employee’s right to claim dismissal was deferred in circumstances of temporary dismissal or short-term employment.
In a letter to Ms Humphreys, Donall O’Keeffe, executive director of the Licensed Vintners Association, called on the government to extend the layoff provisions until all pubs can trade normally.
Vacant
Furthermore, the Government has nominated Mairead McGuinness and Andrew McDowell to fill the vacancy of EU Commissioner following the resignation of Phil Hogan.
In a statement, the government said that the issue of assignment of functions was a matter for the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“However, the Government firmly believes that both candidates have demonstrated the experience, skills and ability to serve and contribute in the most demanding roles.”
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