Guidelines for the reopening of indoor dining next Monday are expected to be approved by Ministers this morning.
Time limits will be lifted but premises will still have to close at 11.30pm.
Unvaccinated children will be allowed to dine with adults, if their table is two metres away from other tables.
Digital Covid Certs will be checked at the door, while an app to scan the QR codes is being developed.
President of Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce Colin Ahern says most of the guidelines were expected:
“In general there’s a lot that’s the same as hotels are doing anyway so I’ve no doubt that the restaurants and bars in Kilkenny, and indeed the majority around Ireland will have no problem in making sure that those things happen, and happen in a controlled way”.
Colin, who is also manager of the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel says the measures are all ones that the sector can live with:
“It’s totally feasible. I mean the businesses that are closed just want to get re-open. Right now you can get on a plane and fly to Venice and have a meal indoors and the fact that you can’t do it in Kilkenny makes a bit of a mockery of the whole thing”
