Let's Fly!
The government has announced that International Travel can resume on July 19th, 2021 - after which Ireland will operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate for travel originating within the EU/EEA.
In a highly-anticipated speech on Friday May 28th, Taoiseach Michael Martin announced a number of changes to the restrictions that have been in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Here is the full government statement as published this evening:
Your quick guide to the changes
From 2 June
Accommodation services (hotels, B&Bs, hostels and self-catering)Can reopen with services restricted to overnight guests
From 7 June
Visitors to your home: You can have visitors from 1 other household inside your home for unvaccinated households
Weddings: 25 people can attend a wedding celebration or reception
Sport: Outdoor sports matches can take place
Gyms and training: Gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres can reopen for individual training only
Restaraunts and bars: Outdoor services can reopen
Driver Theory tests: 25,000 tests per month to take place
Organised outdoor events: Maximum of 100 attendees for the majority of venues. Maximum of 200 for outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000
Live events: Pilot events to take place
From 5 July (subject to the public health situation at the time)
Visitors to your home: You can have visitors from up to 3 other households inside your home
Weddings: 50 people can attend a wedding celebration or reception
Organised indoor events: Maximum of 50 attendees at the majority of venues. Maximum of 100 can attend events in larger venues with strict public health measures in place
Organised outdoor events: Maximum of 200 attendees for the majority of venues. Maximum of 500 for outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000
Personal fitness: Indoor training, exercise and dance activities can recommence in pods of up to 6
Bars and restaurants: Indoor services can resume
From 19 July (subject to the public health situation at the time)
International travel: Current government advice is to avoid non-essential international travel. Depending on the prevailing public health situation at the time, Ireland will operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU/EEA (from July 19th)
Under consideration for August
Indoor and outdoor events: Further increases in the numbers permitted
Wedding: Maximum attendance at wedding receptions and celebrations to increase to 100
Public transport: To return to full capacity
Today the government decided to move ahead with the next stage of reopening the economy and society in line with Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead plan. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts and support of the Irish people, the government’s plan on the easing of restrictions is working. Society and the economy are recovering slowly and steadily. To maintain our momentum, we need to continue to follow the public health guidelines in these coming weeks. Practising those individual everyday measures is what will secure Ireland’s recovery from the pandemic.
The vaccination programme continues to make significant progress and we are now in a position to lift a number of public health restrictions during June. Plans for further easing of measures over the summer, subject to prevailing public health advice, have also been set out.
The decision is based on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), that a cautious and phased reopening continues, with a continuing emphasis on outdoor activity, and sufficient time between phases to assess the impact and ensure that progress in controlling the virus is maintained.