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Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Leo Varadkar says 105 minute time-limit for pubs and restaurants is 'under review' and he wants it gone

The Tánaiste denied that the time limit had no scientific basis.

TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has said the 105-minute time limit that applies to tables close together in indoor hospitality is being reviewed and that he would like to see it ended. 

Indoor hospitality in pubs and restaurants has not returned so far this year due to Covid-19 restrictions but guidelines have been issued for when it does. 

Those guidelines state that a 105-minute time limit will be in place for indoor dining where there is social distancing of one metre between tables but this time limit can be removed if there are two metres between tables. 

These guidelines were issued in May before the government last month took the decision to reopen indoor hospitality initially to people who are fully vaccinated only.

The government is planning that this system would be in place before the weekend of 25 July. 

Ahead of the reopening, there has been focus on the time limit for indoor hospitality that would see groups limited to a stay of 105 minutes at a table. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday that the time limit was being implemented out of an abundance of caution.

Speaking on Newstalk’s The Hard Shoulder this evening, Varadkar said this time limit is “under review”.

“That’s one of the things that the working group under (Tourism Minister) Catherine Martin is going to examine before we open,” he said. 

The Tánaiste denied that the time-limit had no scientific basis.

“It’s to do with contact tracing and has to do with reducing the amount of time that anyone spends in an indoor space,” he said.

Bear in mind that only applies if the tables are less than two metres apart. So not in your fine dining restaurant or even your not too busy rural pub, it only applies wherever tables are close together. 

Varadkar said that it is “up to the proprietor” to decide how tables are spaced out “but that the one hour 45 minute thing is under review” 

He added: “It’s not something that was invented by my department or the Department of Tourism, it’s advice from NPHET. I understand why it is there and it is there to limit the amount of time that somebody spends in an enclosed place.”

Asked whether he like to see it removed, Varadkar said: “Yes, but I would prefer to do that with the support of our public health advisors rather than as a political decision.”

Speaking about the implementation of the new rules for indoor dining, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said earlier that the working group led by Martin would “work through the final details”.

“The working group is meeting to go through a lot of those details, we only passed the legislation yesterday in government. It has to go through the Dáill this week, we won’t introduce it until at least a week more than a week from now and in that interim period all those details will be worked out,” he said. 

The Taoiseach told the Dáil that indoor dining will be opened on a phased basis, with fully vaccinated people allowed inside first, with the next phases allowing for the possibility of antigen and PCR testing be used as a means to gain entry. 

A government spokesperson confirmed this evening that a preliminary review of the system and how it operates will take place two weeks after indoor dining resumes.

With reporting by Christina Finn

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    Mute John Egan
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:44 PM

    Its well known the virus only transmits after an hour and 45min has passed.

    544
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    Mute Rory Maccarthy
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    Jul 13th 2021, 9:31 PM

    @John Egan: Or if you are staying in a hotel and eating in their restaurant but not the bar or restaurant beside it.

    116
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    Mute Ed
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:44 PM

    So get rid of it instead of saying what you think people want to hear.

    440
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    Mute Martin Galvin
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:18 PM

    @Ed: Finally, a smidgen of honesty, when anyone, with a logical brain, knows that most of the restrictions were pointless to begin with ….

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    Mute Drunk in Dublin
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    Jul 14th 2021, 8:25 AM

    @Martin Galvin: people who think the restrictions were pointless are pointless.

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    Mute Col de Gal
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    Jul 14th 2021, 10:15 AM

    @Drunk in Dublin: People have short memories. Weren’t we all saved from a huge wave of the alpha variant by the brave decision to close golf courses. And the 9 euro meal played a mighty role in case reduction last year. This year we can be thankful for the decisions to ban click and collect and the closure of garden centres.

    7
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    Mute a
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:47 PM

    We have become a joke of a country.

    378
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    Mute Joe_X
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    Jul 13th 2021, 10:47 PM

    @a: Probably due to the constant whinging to “open the pubs.” They must be thinking “look at typycal paddy- gagging for a pint”

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    Mute Drunk in Dublin
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    Jul 14th 2021, 8:26 AM

    @Joe_X: it is quite sad how much Ireland abuses alcohol.

    3
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    Mute yoloboyz
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:44 PM

    Here comes mr Man of the people

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:54 PM

    @yoloboyz: He said they are reviewing it. It’s like the population of Ireland is under 10 years of age.

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    Mute Jules
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:12 PM

    @David Corrigan: you hit the nail right on the head

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    Mute Bennett blaster
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:35 PM

    @yoloboyz: Dr Good news saying things he hopes will make people happy and forget about Dublin Bay South

    82
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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:48 PM

    Covid wears a watch ya know!

    245
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    Mute karenmaryobrien #openthewindows
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:48 PM

    Scrap the time limit – focus on the science – it’s an aerosolized virus that is diluted by fresh air – the #1 focus should be ventilation.

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    Mute John Woodpecker Macken
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:41 PM

    Well have a word with Tony then

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    Mute D74Life
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:58 PM

    @John Woodpecker Macken: Tony and Ulster have a similar response.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:45 PM

    The country is being run by chickens without heads!

    250
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    Mute Damian Ryan
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:34 PM

    @Paul Mc:
    It’s called headless chicken

    66
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    Mute Stephen Grehan
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:02 PM

    With regard to the new legislation take note of the TDs that vote in favor of this disgusting discrimination and make sure they never see the inside of Dail Eireann ever again.

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    Mute Fionn Darland
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    Jul 13th 2021, 8:21 PM

    @Stephen Grehan: I’ll be taking note of the ones that vote against the safe opening up of hospitality.

    38
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    Mute Damo
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    Jul 13th 2021, 9:30 PM

    @Stephen Grehan: EVERYONE OUT OF THE POOL!
    …I CAN’T SWIM!!!

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    Mute Stephen Grehan
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    Jul 13th 2021, 9:40 PM

    @Fionn Darland: Knock yourself out Fionn.

    24
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    Mute Harry Trafford
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:07 PM

    So only fully vaccinated people can dine indoors but still have a 105minute limit. Sell is the vaccine as a solution but don’t get rid of any restrictions….

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    Mute ChadChaderson
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:39 PM

    So the time limit is to “protect” kids under 18 who don’t have to be vaccinated and young staff .. When will they come out and say its an anti drink move ?

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    Mute George Vladisavljevic
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:02 PM

    The decisions being made by the government are made with agreement of FF, the Greens as well as FG.

    Some people would throw their mother under the bus for some extra votes.

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    Mute Ro-your-nan
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    Jul 13th 2021, 9:36 PM

    @George Vladisavljevic: actually makes no sense

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    Mute John Smith
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:22 PM

    Are these lads for real????

    73
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    Mute Max Power
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:29 PM

    What Level are we at now ? 1 ,2,3,4 o 5?….

    Nice that Leo is looking so smiley & happy in the picture giving the nice news !

    63
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    Mute Fergal Walshe
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    Jul 13th 2021, 9:57 PM

    Is it just me or does Leo act more like a social media influencer than a politician ?

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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jul 13th 2021, 11:28 PM

    @Fergal Walshe: He acts like a modern politician, which is effectively like a social media influencer who makes comments purely for likes and engagement while withholding honesty and truth.

    Looking at the amount of people who will happily blame FF and burn Tony Holohan and NPHET at the stake while absolving him of all responsibility, you’d have to say he’s mastered it.

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    Mute John Fairclough
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:51 PM

    Coincidentally the same amount of time for a game of soccer

    60
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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Jul 14th 2021, 8:00 AM

    @William Tallon: and a boozy lunch in Buswells.

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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:45 PM

    The opposition ie SF & Labour are losing the grey vote. Fully vaccinated people not happy.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:55 PM

    @Joe Johnson: The opposition are not making the decisions. You do understand that bit right Joe?

    129
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    Mute Brian Madden
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:30 PM

    @Joe Johnson: I doubt SF ever had the grey vote. Their base is generally under 55.

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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:41 PM

    @David Corrigan: No but both the govermen and opposition are playing into NPHET hands agruing who is right and so indoor dining could be delayed till Sept for All including the vaccinated people ie mostly elderly.

    10
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    Mute Kieran Woods
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    Jul 13th 2021, 8:11 PM

    @Brian Madden: probably under 45 if it’s IQ you are talking about.

    12
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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jul 13th 2021, 8:29 PM

    @Kieran Woods: Do you consider yourself intelligent because you keep voting for parties who continue to run the country into the ground?

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    Mute Cookie
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    Jul 13th 2021, 9:32 PM

    Yet he supports discrimination against unvaccinated people.

    Utterly vile.

    67
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    Mute Tom Bombdadil
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    Jul 13th 2021, 9:26 PM

    People will just move from pub to pub and spend their allotted times in more than one be venue, inside and outside or wherever they can sit. If you are vaccinated you shouldn’t need time limits inside.

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    Mute Peter
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:57 PM

    Would a business not have a bigger turn over per table if they’re limited by time?

    Or at least don’t be sitting there like a tourist with your pint for two hours.

    38
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    Mute Rhoda Cunningham
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:03 PM

    @Peter: it’s not a 105 minute drinking contest.

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    Mute Peter
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    Jul 14th 2021, 4:27 PM

    @Rhoda Cunningham:

    I guess that makes sense if there’s no food actually

    1
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    Mute Keith O Hanlon
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    Jul 13th 2021, 8:38 PM

    We want you gone and all the rest of your crew

    53
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    Mute Thomas Linehan
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    Jul 13th 2021, 6:45 PM

    Wants it gone because the people are kick up blue murder

    77
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:40 PM

    But are they? Businesses would have more seatings if it stayed. It could be their first chance to earn a living.

    12
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    Mute Derek Anderson
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    Jul 13th 2021, 7:43 PM

    Stu dity just keeps getting more s upid

    35
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    Mute Margaret Doyle
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    Jul 13th 2021, 10:35 PM

    NPHET won’t get paid if they say everything’s good , go ahead and open the pubs because then they wouldn’t be needed and so they have to make models/stories up all the time. We want our Country back.

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    Mute lisa duignan
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    Jul 14th 2021, 1:19 AM

    Varadkar.. he hasn’t gone away you know. Driving the country into the grave.

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    Mute Alan Leahy
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    Jul 13th 2021, 9:33 PM

    105 minutes, The exact time to watch a 90 minute soccer match with 15 minute break in the middle.

    Seems arbitrary to me.

    Jack Lambert is of the same opinion.

    https://youtu.be/H8Nja7bErWE

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    Mute Margaret Kane
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    Jul 13th 2021, 10:02 PM

    It must take Leo longer than 105 minutes to eat his filet steak

    21
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    Mute Dsds
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    Jul 13th 2021, 10:37 PM

    Is there anything that this guy can’t comment on……he is absolutely fantastic !

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    Mute Jenna
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    Jul 13th 2021, 11:57 PM

    I don’t know what it’s like in areas outside of Dublin, some of which may perhaps typically experience less demand for a table, but here in Dublin the restaurants and bars are, from my experience to date, absolutely loving and continuing to implement the 1h45 time limit per booking (even outdoors, where it doesn’t apply) as it allows them to have far higher levels of turnover. Many to which I have spoken intend to have it remain as personal policy even when government restrictions no longer mandate it!

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    Mute Col de Gal
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    Jul 14th 2021, 10:09 AM

    @Jenna: Any bar keeping that policy after official restrictions are gone will find itself out of business rapidly. They can only get away with it while demand exceeds supply.

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    Mute Epgenetics29 Declan Christoph
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    Jul 13th 2021, 10:45 PM

    105 rings a bell?! It was a piece of c r a p rust bucket car made by the Gauls, it promised much, delivered little and it robbed you of your money while it begged you to hold on in there. Gaul, gowl or just a common grass snake. If the shoe fits ‘smile’

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    Mute John Farrant
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    Jul 14th 2021, 12:16 AM

    105 minutes.
    So I can watch a soccer match, using the half time wisely.

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    Mute Maco Maco
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    Jul 15th 2021, 1:35 AM

    Please could leo be gone

    1
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