Reopening of indoor dining to be delayed

The re-opening of indoor dining will be delayed by at least two weeks after a late night meeting of Ministers last night. 

It followed stark figures that were given by NPHET to the cabinet sub-committee about the Delta variant. 

Cabinet's due to meet this morning to finalise the plans, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin making an official announcement this afternoon. 

Junior Minister Niall Collins says indoor dining definitely won't reopen on July 5th as planned. 

"The Cabinet will meet later on this morning, and will take a decision that will give everyone certainty and clarity as to the number of weeks for which indoor catering and hospitality will be deferred by.

"NPHET made a recommendation last night that we defer the reopening of indoor dining and hospitality for a number of weeks."

Michael O'Donovan, the chair of the Cork branch of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, says the delay is a big letdown for publicans. 

"It's hugely disappointing - financially it's going to be crippling for us.

"I myself got my deliveries in the last few days, and I have to pay my suppliers by the end of July. If I can't open in July, that still has to come out of my bank account.

"And also for my colleagues that depend on staycations this year - losing possibly now the whole month of July will be crippling for them."