Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
559. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide the hospitality and tourism sector at least one month's notice for when they will be allowed to reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14315/21]
View answerI am aware of the issues faced by the tourism and hospitality industry, including the difficulties posed by ongoing COVID-19-related restrictions, and understand why the tourism and hospitality sector would like greater notice of and certainty around reopening. Nonetheless COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease, which spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. The current public health advice is that it is too early to say how and when other restrictions might be eased given current uncertainties.
In line with COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021 – The Path Ahead, the Government agreed that the public health restrictions will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. Government will meet in advance of 5th of April to review the level of restrictions for the following period.
