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The government’s decision to ease the Covid-19 restrictions next week is highly likely to be made on Friday.
A short discussion about the Cabinet restrictions follows this morning. A new meeting is expected to take place on Friday.
It will be preceded by a meeting of the National Public Health Emergencies Team tomorrow and possibly a meeting of the Covid-19 Cabinet subcommittee on Thursday.
The latest data from Thursday will be used when the government is considering options.
The key point to be finalized is when restaurants and gourmet pubs will reopen and what guidelines might be necessary to allow inside dining.
The chance of non-food pubs opening this year is said to be decreasing all the time.
It is said that there is a determination in the Government that once the pubs and gastronomic restaurants reopen, they should be able to stay open until January.
Ministers must also decide when exactly travel between countries will be allowed in the days leading up to Christmas.
Guidelines on family reunions are also expected to be issued, but are likely to be general in nature.
Also, a decision will have to be made on what time after Christmas the cross-country travel restriction could be reintroduced.
“The data will inform the next steps, it is not guesswork”@MichealMartinTD says no one should question the good faith of those whose aim is to protect lives, and that it should be noted that Ireland is doing well in suppressing the virus | More: https://t.co/y0zp4tHfC3 pic.twitter.com/wQAkiLMjcd
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 24, 2020
The Minister of Reform and Public Expenditure has said that he would like the economy to reopen as much as possible next month, provided it is safe to do so.
Michael McGrath said the Cabinet is well aware that it has important decisions to make this week and that it will balance a number of considerations.
He said ministers will listen carefully to NPHET advice as they consider some valid economic considerations, as December is a crucial month for much of the economy.
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McGrath said Christmas is a very important time for families across the country who want to see each other.
However, he added that attention should be paid to the first part of 2021, so we start the new year in the best possible position.
A number of competing factors must be weighed, according to the minister, recognizing that it will not be possible to please everyone.
Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications Minister Eamon Ryan said the reopening should be done in a controlled manner and that gyms, churches and galleries should be first in line.
The Minister of Social Protection and Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, also said that the government wants the economy to reopen safely.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Ms Humphreys said that the goal “is to move to Level 3 with certain restrictions and accommodations, so there may have to be some nuances, but that’s all to discuss towards the end of the week. “.
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Sinn Féin reiterated his call for a coordinated approach to Covid-19 on the island of Ireland.
The co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall, said the data should drive decisions and called for early announcements to provide certainty, especially for pubs and restaurants.
The Dáil is debating how to get out of the Level 5 restrictions this afternoon.
Yesterday, 252 additional cases of Covid-19 were reported. No new deaths were announced.
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