Ireland looked set to rapidly unwind almost all COVID-19 restrictions with ministers due to meet on Friday to agree on a timetable after being given the all clear by public health officials.
An 8 p.m curfew on the hospitality sector could be lifted as soon as this weekend, alongside the ditching of vaccines passes with capacity in indoor and outdoor venues also set to return to full capacity, including for next month’s Six Nations rugby championship, local media reported.
Ireland ends vaccine based discrimination! https://t.co/hZHDnXL2nh
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) January 21, 2022
Ministers have said previously said that some measures, such as the need to wear a mask on public transport or in shops, are likely to remain in place beyond the ending of the restrictions put in place late last year when the Omicron wave struck.
Belfast Northern Ireland 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/0BbVTUrCIk
— The Juggernaut (@TheJuggernaut88) January 15, 2022
“I think it is reasonable to expect that we will be able to exit the regulations on a faster basis than would have looked likely a number of days ago,” Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe told national broadcaster RTE late on Thursday.
“We will not comply” See you on Saturday in #Dublin 🇮🇪! 2pm at the #GardenOfRemembrance #WeWillNotComply pic.twitter.com/uezfGxpMCC
— Campaign for TRUTH & Proper Healthcare (@Camp4Truth) January 19, 2022
Irish business groups urged the government to move swiftly. The Licensed Vintners Association said pubs and nightclubs were ready to open late as soon as Friday night.
Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪 8 pm Hospitality Curfew, so the People continue partying in the streets….Do whatever you can to disrupt their plans 🔥👊 pic.twitter.com/MSOCTOytIU
— 𝙍𝙄𝙎𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙇𝘽𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙉𝙀 (@risemelbourne) January 17, 2022
Dublin 8pm . End the curfew. @OldDublinTown @IrishMirror @VisitDublin @gavreilly @ThePhotoHour @MichealLehane @theirelandguide pic.twitter.com/PlSfZMW0Od
— Mark (@MarkyDub) January 16, 2022
Ireland’s hospitality sector has been particularly hard hit by one of Europe’s toughest lockdown regimes. Nightclubs opened their doors for the first time in 19 months in October only to be shut again six weeks later.
⚠️ BREAKING NEWS⚠️
— Emma (@newhandlehun) January 21, 2022
Dublin crowd gather ahead of Taoiseach’s announcement pic.twitter.com/4YVqn260OQ