Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE GOVERNMENT CONFIRMED last night that Ireland will move back to Level 3 from Tuesday 1 December – with some modifications.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that shops, restaurants, gyms and some pubs will reopen next week, and that its advice is that household visits will be allowed at Christmas.
In a nationwide address yesterday evening, Martin announced the Covid-19 restrictions that will replace Level 5, which has been in force since 22 October.
He said there had been a “massive national effort” to push back the disease and many sacrifices had been made by individuals and businesses.
Martin said he knows people are “fed up” and he understands that feeling as he outlined the different stages and dates for reopening society.
From next Tuesday 1 December, retailers, hairdressers, gyms, libraries, galleries and cinemas will reopen. People will be permitted to use tennis courts and golf courses, and religious services will also be allowed to resume.
For religious services, the limit on the number of worshippers under Level 3 has not changed – 50 people at mass, 25 people at funeral and weddings.
From Friday 4 December, restaurants and pubs with a kitchen on-site are to reopen, but with more restrictions than before. Hotels will also be able to open to indoor diners.
Pubs that only serve alcohol will not be permitted to reopen before Christmas, but will be allowed to serve takeaway drinks.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar clarified last night that the one hour and 45 minute limit of dining only applies if tables are less than two metres apart. He also said that the €9 substantial meal in gastropubs will remain in place.
People must continue to stay within their county apart from work, education and other essential purposes during this time until 18 December.
People should continue to work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person, the Government has said.
For more on what restrictions are in place during Level 3, see here.
From Friday 18 December, restrictions on household visits will be lifted to allow two households to visit a third. Inter-county travel will also be permitted from this date, until 6 January.
From 7 January, the measures put in place prior to 18 of December will apply, subject to ongoing review of the trajectory of the virus.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar advised people to avoid returning home for Christmas from abroad but all rules regarding movement restrictions should be followed if the travel is necessary for family reasons.
In addition, the Government has advised that people wear face masks or coverings on “busy streets” and in other settings.
The Taoiseach said the government’s guidance on mask-wearing has had “an incredibly positive impact” and was being expanded.
“The government is also updating its guidance on masks. In July, we introduced guidance on wearing masks indoors. And this has had an incredibly positive impact,” he said.
We’re now adding to that guidance and, from 1 December, people will be asked to also wear their masks outdoors on busy streets, within crowded indoor workplaces and in places of worship.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
So €7k of cocaine and €6.5k of cannabis found. Not exactly jaw dropping amounts for a 100 gardai and even more customs officers involved. I thought the Garda were lacking resources? Doesn’t seem so here, more like overkill .
@Brian Smith: Well Said
Couple of oz of weed.
No biggie in any other country.
@Brian Smith: When marijuana eventually is legalised wait until you see who gets the licences to sell it, friends of those in high places ! Joking aside, it will free up Garda resources and become a revenue stream for the state. Its only a matter of time.
Free the weed.
@Patricia McCarthy: …the focus of today was intelligence gathering…really?! Complete failure so…
100 Gardai to seize, what is in an overall sense, a small quantity of drugs. No doubt there is diligent work going on etc, but we have to start asking ourselves what is the point in it all? Nothing is being stopped for such a huge investment of resources, and we are continuing to leave the safety of our people who use in the hands of those looking to make a quick buck.
@Diarmaid Twomey: equates to about 135 quids worth of police work per Garda, wow!
That’s definitely over €6,500 worth of cannabis in that picture. Only needed 100 gardaí to seize it, too. Money well spent, lads.
100 Gardai to seize that?? Ffs. What a waste of resources
Stop wasting my tax money.
@Michael Grogan: Great comment. Try saying that to people affected by recent events/ tragedies in Foxrock, Athy, Laytown, just to mention a few- in a matter of days..???
@Margate: It takes 100 Gardai to take €13,000 worth of drugs of the street. I’ll say it again. Stop wasting my tax money.
They should’ve used some of those 100 Garda on speed checks on motorways and roads where no pedestrians/ houses or accidents ever happen. Much better use of resources, and make sure they get lots of overtime as well!!!!!
Complete waste of Gardaí resources!
Legalise, regulate, tax!
Gardai only enforce the law, and well done to them as far as I am concerned, good job
What a waste of time and resources. 100 people involved in a small bust. The cost of paying their overtime is probably triple the amount they actually found.
Great, now put them away for a 5 year suspended sentence
@Alan Wallace: i enjoyed that. very good read. thumbs up
have your say