NPHET met on Thursday afternoon and concluded that most of the remaining restrictions could now be lifted. That gives the government the green light to remove the Covid pass for entry to venues, end the 8pm hospitality curfew and lift attendance limits at indoor events.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan outlined the recommendations in a letter sent to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last night.
Among the restrictions NPHET advises should remain in place are mask-wearing indoors, the COVID cert for international travel and the requirement for those displaying symptoms to self-isolate.
Following this afternoon's cabinet meeting, the Taoiseach is expected to address the nation this evening to announce any easing of restrictions.
Adrian Cummins of the Restaurants Association of Ireland has called for the restrictions on hospitality to be lifted from tonight.
"We’ve heard over the last two years that we should always follow public health advice," he said. "The public health advice is now to lift restrictions, and the government can lift the restrictions with immediate effect if they so wish. We’re saying to the government now lift the 8pm ban on businesses having to have customers off the premises. That’s a very easy thing to do to return to normal trading hours."
"There will be some businesses that may not have the stock, but they will get themselves ready as quickly as possible, but give the opportunity to those businesses now to trade into normal trading hours tonight," he added.
