Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
545. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a facility serving food is allowed to reopen; the health grounds this decision is based on; if Covid-19 can differentiate between a person who eats a meal in a facility or a person who does not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12504/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Government confirmed the move to Phase 2 of Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business from Monday, 8 June 2020. Information and advice about the restrictions that have been eased as part of Phase 2 and the measures that are now in place are available on the Government website at http://www.gov.ie/phase2.
The Regulations which currently apply, and are in operation until 29 June 2020, are the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 206 of 2020).
These Regulations provide that outlets selling food or beverages on a takeaway basis are permitted outlets at this time.
The Deputy may wish to note that the Regulations provide that the occupier, the manager, or any other person in charge, shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of the public are not permitted, or otherwise granted, access to a premises or to a part of such premises, where a business or service of a type such as an outlet selling food or beverages whether on a retail or wholesale basis and whether in a non-specialised or specialised outlet, is carried on or otherwise provided other than insofar as they sell food or beverages on a takeaway basis or for consumption off the premises. This includes outlets in relation to which an on-licence (within the meaning of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 (No. 24 of 2018) applies.
These Regulations were introduced on foot of public health advice in order to limit the number of individuals gathering indoors that staff and customers interact with at any one time.
The Government also agreed to bring forward actions in the remaining phases of the Roadmap and plan for four phases rather than the five originally indicated. On 19 June 2020, the Taoiseach, on behalf of the Government, announced the restrictions that would be eased and the measures that will be in place when Phase 3 is introduced on 29 June 2020. This will be subject to continued progressive improvements in the health indicators identified in the Framework for Future Decision-Making described in the Roadmap.
The Deputy may also wish to note that in preparing to re-open from the 29 June, 2020 the hospitality sector, as applicable, should refer to the HPSC COVID-19: Guidance for Food Service Businesses to assist them to carry out a detailed risk assessment and ensure that the communal spaces of venues, amenities and activities operate in line with physical distancing and the mass gatherings restrictions applying in Phase 3 and Phase 4.
Fáilte Ireland has also published updated guidelines for the re-opening of Restaurants and Cafés available at the following link:
https://failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Restaurants-and-Cafes.pdf
Further information on the easing of restrictions as part of Phase 3 is available at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d06271-easing-the-covid-19-restrictions-on-29-june-phase-3/
