‘Giant leap’: Hospitality sector broadly welcomes reopening plans

Good morning – your eyes do not deceive you: those are quotes from the hospitality sector welcoming a new development in the Government’s Covid policy.

In a missive on Monday evening, the Restaurants Association of Ireland – not a body known to be shy of a bit of megaphone diplomacy – called Government plans to reopen hospitality indoors for the vaccinated as a “giant leap towards reopening . . . safely, viably and sustainably”.

The plan will be rushed through the Dáil and Seanad before the Houses adjourn and sent to the President next week, it is hoped. There’s no firm date set, but the Government says it will be in place no later than July 26th.

There are wrinkles aplenty, and some of the measures, such as allowing unvaccinated staff to have a meal and drink in their places of work, are extremely fudged.

Most common symptoms of Delta are sore throat, cough and nasal congestion

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Explainer: Where does each age group stand in terms of being vaccinated?

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Indoor hospitality to reopen for fully vaccinated people no later than July 26th

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People caught using fake passes to access indoor hospitality face fine of up to €2,000

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The measures are also unlikely to iron out some core contradictions and inequities within the policy, which the Opposition will target. But ever was it thus in Covid policy, where brain-twisting contradictions proliferate.

The (relatively) resounding welcome aside, nobody is pretending this is the ideal solution. But, if it works – especially as other European countries are forced to reintroduce restrictions – it will at least allow the Coalition to keep to the core of the unspoken post-Christmas covenant with voters: that progress may be slow and frustrating, but steps taken will be lasting.

A new normal, better than the grim days of winter and early spring, but nowhere near pre-pandemic life – will it be enough to consolidate recent polling gains for the Government, whose approval rating surged 10 points in our last poll?

And what about at party, and leader, level, where the polling trends are more complex? Much remains to be seen.

However, it seems Fianna Fáil, at least for now, is not in the mood to ditch the current approach. Despite growing rumblings of discontent, ministerial tail-gunners are out in force for Micheál Martin today.

While there are clearly concerns among the parliamentary party, they haven’t a critical mass yet. That is comforting for Micheál Martin and his allies – but they will also know that issues around succession, tactics and long-term strategy will have to be addressed, even if it is later rather than sooner.

Our lead story is here.

Another front-page story reveals Fianna Fáil is seen by alienated voters as divided.

Our front-page line-up is completed by Naomi O'Leary's story from Brussels on Ireland's corporate tax balancing act.

Best Reads

Harry McGee's read on the Fianna Fáil heave that isn't can be found here.

While the Taoiseach's Ministerial colleagues seek to impose some discipline.

Our Fianna Fáil line-up is completed by Fintan O'Toole, who writes that the party is a "vestigal feature – the tailbone or the appendix". Ouch.

North of the Border, the July 12th celebrations got under way yesterday. Freya McClements and Gerry Moriarty's colour and analysis pieces are here and here.

Away from the daily grind of politics, those of us still waiting for a Covid jab can read the tea leaves on when privileges like indoor dining may be opened up here, courtesy of Jack Power.

Playbook

Cabinet meets at 9am in Dublin Castle, but with the main Covid policy item (indoor hospitality) covered off by an incorporeal meeting on Monday evening, focus will be elsewhere – including the introduction of tougher sanctions for breaching rules governing the revolving door between politics and business. More on that here.

Ministers will also consider a plan for 4,600 extra college places – including 440 in health sciences, nursing, pharmacy and medicine. Those courses came under pressure following a surge in applications, as we reported last week. Cormac McQuinn has the details.

Dáil

The Dáil sits at 2pm with Leaders’ Questions from Sinn Féin, Labour, the Regional Group and the Independent Group. Taoiseach’s questions are shortly after 3pm, followed by oral questions for Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

Sinn Féin has a Private Member’s motion on Nursing Homes at 5.19pm. Government business is the local property tax amendment Bill 2021, followed by topical issues at 11pm, and a planned adjournment at ten to midnight.

Seanad

It’s a busy morning in the Seanad, which is examining the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provision) Bill 2021, and the committee and remaining stages for the Companies Bill focused on a new rescue process for small and micro firms. It adjourns at 12.45pm.

Committees

Committees are being thrashed over the finishing line too, as the end of the Dáil term approaches. Three committees – Good Friday, Public Accounts and Transport and Communications – will start at 9.30am. The financial statements from the children’s hospital and the implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate are on the agenda respectively for the latter two.

The Foreign Affairs and Environment and Climate Action committees are meeting at 12.30pm, discussing immigration matters in the US and reducing carbon emissions.

At the same time, the Sub-Committee on Mental Health will hear from Pavee Point on the mental health of Travellers. The Children’s Committee will conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill, and the Agriculture Committee will continue its hearings into the horse racing industry.

The Education Committee will undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the higher education authority Bill 2021.