The reopening of indoor dining has been delayed.
Pubs and restaurants across the country had been hoping to reopen their indoor seating areas from July 5th.
However, Cabinet Ministers have agreed to postpone the move for a number of weeks.
No firm date for their reopening was given by Taoiseach Micheal Martin as he addressed the nation this afternoon.
Ministers will devise an implementation plan by July 19th for how fully vaccinated people can dine and drink indoors.
He said public health officials made a stark warning last night that proceeding as planned carried a real risk of greatly increased hospital admissions, illness, and death.
The Taoiseach said the safest way to proceed is to limit indoor dining to people who have been fully vaccinated and those who have fully recovered from covid-19.
A practical and workable approach to this will be worked on over the coming weeks.
Attendances at weddings will increase as planned, with up to 50 guests allowed at receptions from next month.
*Reporting by Sean Defoe
