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Level 5 restrictions have worked, but reopening hospitality is difficult and will be risky, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said at a meeting of his parliamentary party.
In the private meeting, Mr. Martin was heard that the country will go from Level 5 to “Level 3 with modifications”.
He said he hoped people would be able to go to Mass and other religious services around Christmas.
The Taoiseach clashed with several of their fellow party members who called for pubs to be allowed to open and for the hospitality industry to be clarified.
Mr. Martin said Level 5 has worked and the Government is awaiting Nphet’s advice before announcing all the details of the plan.
TO @fiannafailparty pages:@mmcgrathtd says Ireland leads Europe in fighting Covid. Does not accept FF is to blame. He says that the lockdown is not inevitable in January. Praise the leadership of @MichealMartinTD, as one TD said “him doing that is the real news”
– Daniel McConnell (@McConnellDaniel) November 25, 2020
The Taoiseach said that Level 5 has managed to bring down the numbers, but the plan to be announced is not only about Christmas, but also about what will come next.
He said the main economic departments will inform decisions about the reopening, rather than a decision made solely for health reasons.
He also told his TDs that there will be a strong emphasis on people doing their part by way of personal responsibility in how they behave in December.
Martin said the winter initiative invested a lot in the community and that the country is reaping the rewards.
On a positive note, he said that as the country moves into January, nonessential retail may not have to close again if we learn the lessons from this period.
At the meeting, TDs and senators who called for pubs to be allowed to reopen included Jackie Cahill, Marc MacSharry, Dara Calleary, Padraig O’Sullivan, Jim O’Callaghan, Mary Fitzpatrick and Joe Flaherty.
Christopher O’Sullivan, a TD from Cork South-West, said the lack of clarity on hospitality “is not good.” According to sources, Flaherty asked the government to “stop cowering and open up the economy.”
MacSharry said that Fianna Fáil is to blame for closing the bars, adding that Leo Varadkar is “outwitting” Fianna Fáil by announcing the result of the closure before Friday. He also said that the Irish Examiner “announced everything” last Monday.
Mr. Cahill said that Fianna Fáil is “losing” and taking the blame. However, the Minister of Public Expenditure, Michael McGrath, responded by saying that he did not accept it.
He said that Ireland is leading Europe in terms of fighting Covid-19 and does not accept blaming the party.
He also said that “it is not inevitable” that a third closure will be needed in January. Mr. McGrath also paid tribute to the leadership shown by the Taoiseach. ”
Calleary said the country should focus on the deployment of the vaccine while calling for the opening of the hotel sector. He said the Taoiseach must share information on which decisions are based this week.
Dublin Bay South TD Jim O’Callaghan said people should be rewarded for their efforts during the shutdown, while Sen. Mary Fitzpatrick said people should be rewarded and allowed to go to mass and pubs.
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