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THE GOVERNMENT HAS confirmed the details of its plans for gradually reopening a number of sectors over the next few months.
The plans cover everything from pilot outdoor live events with hundreds of attendees in June, to the return of international travel and indoor dining in July.
The Taoiseach said Ireland is taking “definite steps towards normal times” and the challenge now is “to keep moving forward safely”.
Let’s take a closer look at the measures set to take effect in the coming months.
The Taoiseach said the government wants to restore international travel in a “safe and sustainable way”.
International travel will be permitted for non-essential reasons from 19 July.
All EU countries will be removed from the mandatory hotel quarantine list at this point.
This is to facilitate the introduction of the Digital Green Certificate, or the EU’s Covid passport.
This will allow those who are fully vaccinated, have produced a negative Covid test result from the previous 72 hours, or who have fully recovered from Covid to travel in the EU.
There will be no restrictions on travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
However due to concerns about the coronavirus variant that originated in India (B.1617), Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that there will be restrictions on people travelling from Britain to Ireland.
“There are real concerns about the prevalence of the Indian variant in Britain. It’s now the dominant variant of Britain. Over 50% of cases appear to be this B.1617 variant. That’s something we’re concerned about,” the Tánaiste said.
“For that reason, we’re not in the position to restore the Common Travel Area just yet.”
An emergency brake feature can be applied to EU countries if necessary, the Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said.
This will be applied to countries with emerging variants of concern or variants of interest.
If applied to a country, the government will advise against travelling there.
You can read more details on how the return of non-essential international travel will work here.
From 2 June (next Wednesday), hotels, B&Bs and other accommodation services will reopen.
Outdoor services at pubs and restaurants have been signed off to return from 7 June.
Indoor services in pubs and restaurants can return from 5 July.
Earlier this week, Fáilte Ireland announced its guidelines for the first phase of a partial reopening of hospitality, with plans drawing both support and criticism.
The Tánaiste said it doesn’t make sense to change the “anomaly” of hotels being permitted to serve food and drink indoors while indoor dining is banned elsewhere, for the month-long period of disparity.
From 7 June, a maximum of 100 people can attend organised outdoor events in most venues.
Outdoor venues with a capacity of at least 5,000 can have up to 200 attendees from this date.
This will increase to a maximum of 200 people for most venues from 5 July, and a maximum of 500 for outdoor venues with a capacity of at least 5,000.
In August, the government will consider further increasing the numbers permitted at outdoor and indoor events.
It was reported last night that this could result in up to 5,000 spectators attending outdoor events in large stadiums like Croke Park from August.
A number of pilot outdoor live events will be held in the Phoenix Park and Iveagh Gardens in Dublin, along with other events in counties Limerick and Cork.
On 10 June, an outdoor music event with an audience of 500 is to be piloted in the Iveagh Gardens, followed by an event in the UL Concert Hall Opera on 23 June with 519 attendees.
On 26 June, two fully-seated events are set to take place – an outdoor music festival with 3,600 people in Phoenix Park and another event indoors in the INEC Killarney with 200 people.
The full list of events in June can be found here.
Speaking at a briefing on Friday, Leo Varadkar said that even as restrictions on events and capacity limits ease, there are “difficulties” organisers may face in trying to put events together.
“It does take time to plan for these, to book acts, to get a license and get insurance,” Varadkar said.
The Tánaiste said that “what we will see across the summer maybe is smaller events, not the big ones, but perhaps the 5,000 to 10,000 [attendees] and they might be really nice.
“It maybe won’t be big acts but local acts, and that can be fun.£
Unvaccinated people can have visitors from one other household inside their homes from 7 June.
From 5 July, people can have visitors from up to three other households inside their homes.
Currently, fully vaccinated people can meet indoors with other fully vaccinated people for a total of up to three households.
Fully vaccinated people from a maximum of two households can also meet indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household.
The maximum number of guests at a wedding celebration or reception will increase to 25 from 7 June.
This will increase further to 50 guests on 5 July and 100 in August, subject to the Covid-19 situation at the time.
All of the additional changes in July and August will be dependent on the continued improved situation with the disease.
Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres can reopen for individual training from 7 June in a measure previously flagged by the government.
Outdoor amusement facilities and theme parks can also reopen from this date, along with drive-in cinemas and drive-in bingo.
Cinemas and theatres can reopen from 7 June.
Public transport should be able to return to full capacity from 2 August, Eamon Ryan said. It is currently at 50% capacity.
25,000 driver theory tests will take place per month from 7 June onwards.
Indoor training, exercise and dance activates can restart from 5 July in pods of up to six.
The advice in terms of working from home is still to do so if possible, the Taoiseach said.
The Tánaiste said people should only attend workplaces if necessary, and it’s believed this will be the advice until September.
However, Varadkar said certain workplace attendance on a staggered basis will be considered in August before schools and colleges return and while public transport is less busy.
There will be a further announcement next week on the government’s plans for pandemic welfare supports.
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Best of luck to Joanna , always a pleasant & friendly personality on RTE & did brilliantly in that dancing show. Still, that’s an unusual phrase to accompany a resignation ‘ my leaving has nothing to do with my work product’. Best of luck in future endeavours & happy retirement.
@Mary Linton: she freaks me out with. Her reports, flouncing like she is some sort when she ain’t.
@Basildon Joe: There’s always one, Joe. And today, you are centre stage.
Richard Head.
@Mary Linton: Gin clear Blue skies for your future, Joanna. You always explained the weather as well as giving the forecast. Your 2 books are also fantastic
@Mary Linton: it had nothing to do with her
work product, just the content she was given to push….. she knew she was spouting bullshït to further an agenda that may have taken its toll, if so fair play to her for having the courage to walk away
@Jim: Was it the chemtrails, Jim? Womble
@Basildon Joe: Get out of it Joe.
Comes across as a lovely lady, best of luck with your next venture Joanna
Very unusual way to sign off. Best of luck to her.
Good luck Joanna with your new adventures always so pleasant
Sad to hear, but the best of luck Joanne.
Good luck. Enjoy the freer atmosphere.
@Michael Walsh: sad to see her go very good at her job
Going to miss Joanna and that gorgeous friendly smile on RTE Weather news,
Best of luck Joanna.Always enjoyed your forecasts even if they were for bad weather
Always liked her, comes across as a good person. Wishing her all the best in what she does next. Judging by comments elsewhere, she seems to trigger the Right, for some reason.
More power to her, change is good for you. Her first book was great for the kids. And it creates an opportunity for someone else to step up.
Wishing her the very best and she was it appears very down to earth. I hope what ever you do it’s fulfilling and exciting.
Best of luck. Yourself and Gerry were firm favourites in this household for presenting the weather. Wish you all the best
She was always good humored even when the forecast was bad. Her presence made it feel a bit better. Slang go fill.
@hans vos: Slan go foil .
Best wishes Joanna and may fair weather follow you always.
Best wishes to your next adventures, not everything is about being in the public eye. May you find calm spells with gusts of laughter reaching full force and then easing overnight.
Joanna I always enjoyed your forecast. We will miss you and very fresh approach. Good luck going forward.
Nobody will ever beat Jean Byrne !
Best wishes for the future Joanna,you will be missed you were a really good presenter X
Best Wishes to Joanna – I always enjoyed her forecasts and the way she communicated them
Always gave a detailed and enthusiastic forecast. Best of luck on your new venture.
Slan go foil. I always enjoyed her way of forecasting, trying to explain the bigger picture behind the weather. Best of luck Joanna!
I believe she suffers from insomnia I do know what it’s like A nightmare
Wishing her all the best in her new direction. She did a good job.
Bit of an innovator – Dancing With The Stars *before retirement. Still – enjoy.
Good luck in whatever you do a pleasure to watch and listen to
I recall one time when she hadn’t quite struck her pose correctly as the camera started rolling,ah bless her.
Maybe she has aspirations of becoming a real journalist instead of working with the goverment spokes persons in the rte news room
@Joe Doyle: she’s not a journalist, she’s a meteorologist
@Joe Doyle: I think you will find most of the investigative journalism that is done in Ireland is done by RTE- Tuam babies, Maurice McCabe, Stardust etc
@Joe Doyle: She worked for Met Eireann.
Absolute Pro, best of Luck Joanna for the future
She’s going to be the next pope!
@Padraig O’Brien: we’ll see what’s on the washing line next week
We interrupt your broadcast with urgent news. Joanna Donnelly has vanished from RTÉ—not retired, removed. Sources at Met Éireann confirm: a media coup led by VMN’s own Collette “Doom Merchant” Fitzpatrick. Donnelly’s accurate forecasts were too calm. Collette demanded chaos—firestorms, ice tsunamis, dramatic pauses. Instruments failed, weather maps glitched, and thermometers turned to lava lamps. Donnelly’s final forecast? Coded in wind and birdsong. They silenced her voice—but if you listen closely… she’s still broadcasting.
Quality forecaster & an always in great form too. Best of luck to her
Wonder was she in Tramore last week
Excellent p8
Does anyone really care??
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