Waterford, Ireland / WLR
May 24, 2021 | 7:33 AM
The Cabinet is due to decide on Friday if remaining sectors of the economy restricted due to Covid-19 can reopen in July.
Aviation, live events, including concerts and sporting events, and indoor hospitality are on the agenda this week, with Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath and Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris each indicating these areas would return in the coming weeks.
The Irish Times reports other Ministers also said the signs for reopening the remaining sectors of the economy are encouraging.
Pubs and restaurants are expected to be permitted to serve food and alcohol indoors from early July, while spectators may be allowed to attend selected sporting events, so long as the crowds do not exceed 5 per cent of the total capacity.
Irish cinemas have called on the Taoiseach for a reopening date, saying that their industry, which employs 2,000 people, âis at breaking pointâ and that, to have âany chance of surviving and recoveringâ, the sector needs to know âwithout delayâ when it can reopen.
Mark Anderson, a director of Omniplex Cinema Group, who has liaised with the department on behalf of the sector, wrote on Friday to Taoiseach Micheál Martin in advance of further announcements on reopenings that are expected next week.
The letter, seen by The Irish Times, says cinemas last month presented the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with âmore compelling evidence from global sources identifying cinema as a safe indoor activity. To date, there is still no evidence of Covid-19 transmission in any cinema setting, worldwide.â He wrote: âSurely the time has come to reopen our cinemas.â