The idea of limiting indoor hospitality to those who have been fully vaccinated, or who have recovered from Covid-19 is “neither workable or policeable”.
This is the view of Roscommon-Galway TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, who was reacting to Tuesday’s announcement by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, that the return of indoor hospitality is to be delayed until at least July 19.
Indoor service for pubs and restaurants had been scheduled to return on July 5, but an assessment from NPHET about the potential spread of the new Delta variant of the Covid virus, saw the timescale moved to later in the month.
'Angry constituents'
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Dep Fitzmaurice said Micheal Martin was “infuriating people right around this country”. He also said he had received “countless calls” from “angry constituents” who were “bemused and frustrated” by the decision to delay indoor hospitality.
However, NPHET said in its advice that indoor dining could return for fully vaccinated persons only, and that a wider reopening could only come at a later point. The Taoiseach did say the Government would be outlining a plan in the coming weeks regarding indoor activities.
Dep Fitzmaurice though, is unconvinced about the idea of limiting indoor hospitality to those who have been fully vaccinated, or who have recovered from Covid-19.
'Mayhem on the streets'
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“If this became a reality, it would cause mayhem on the streets,” he said “How would someone running a restaurant or pub know if someone had recovered from Covid? As well as that, the majority of the young people have yet to be even offered a vaccine. They would be blacklisted from enjoying indoor hospitality from the get-go.”
Dep Fitzmaurice said the Government “needs to stand on its own two feet” when making decisions regarding the reopening of society, instead of simply “handing the reins to NPHET”.
