Pubs, coffee shops and restaurants in Kilkenny and Carlow might be allowed to welcome customers back onto their premises as early as next week.
Ministers have approved legislation to allow people who are fully vaccinated or who have recovered from Covid to eat indoors.
Even children, who aren’t vaccinated, will be allowed dine indoors if accompanied by an adult.
Cabinet will meet again this morning to discuss what date it can resume, but it’ll be before July 26th.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says “We will allow accompanied minors, those under 18 to attend indoor hospitality with their parent or guardian but on advice this does mean that social distancing rules will continue to apply indoors as they did last summer”
Meanwhile a Kilkenny publican and restauranteur is calling for young people working in hospitality to sign up and get a vaccine a soon as possible.
Former Vintners President Pat Crotty who owns Paris Texas in Kilkenny city says he wants indoor dining to be a safe as possible when it does return.