The Tánaiste says a plan will be published at the end of this month with return dates for pubs, restaurants and hotels.
Leo Varadkar says he's increasingly confident the hospitality sector can open by July.
Adding to that, it's expected barbers and hairdressers will be allowed open on a phased basis from May.
Leo Varadkar says he hopes the hospitality sector won't be too far behind:
"We would expect to be in a position. at the end of April, to give an indication as to how hospitality may open across the course of June or July."
He says, "We've no detail on that yet."
"However it's evident, and becoming increasingly evident that outdoor dining is much safer than indoor."
"But we'd like to get to a point where both will be possible."
What people have achieved by limiting contacts & following public health advice has made a very real, positive impact.
Let's keep this going until the vaccination programme has had an opportunity to protect us, our friends & families. pic.twitter.com/9AwsSUqdwx— Dr Ronan Glynn (@ronan_glynn) April 15, 2021
Numbers Are "Better Than Anything We Could Have Hoped For"
The Acting Chief Medical Officer says Ireland is one of the best-performing countries in Europe when it comes to tackling Covid.
NPHET today reported 309 new cases of the virus, as well as 8 deaths.
Dr Ronan Glynn says, "Of course I'll give all the caveats and say it's still a high level of disease and it could still turn quickly."
However he's added that the drop in infection levels, "is down, first and foremost, to people listening to the messages and sticking with us."
Most optimistic NPHET briefing for a while there:
- Under 200 Covid patients in hospital: lowest level since mid-December
- Cases falling by 2-4% per day
- Cases a fraction of EU average
Still a way to go, but officials say efforts of the Irish public have been paying off.— Paul O'Donoghue (@paulodonoghue93) April 15, 2021
Restaurants May Open In July, What About Retail?
Retailers have called for a faster re-opening of non-essential shopping.
It comes as the retail sector is set to open in Northern Ireland at the end of this month.
Click and collect services here will likely re-open in early May.
So the full sector could follow later in the month.
Deputy Chair of Retail Excellence Jean McCabe says the return of click and collect would be a big boost:
"For a lot of small businesses who aren't online, click and collect is actually a lifeline."
She says orders can be placed over the phone or on social media platforms, ready for customers to pick up.
"So I think it's really important that those businesses get a chance to sell their ageing stock."
Jean says there's a risk fashion retailers in particular will, "miss their window," with summer stock.
