We will soon have a final answer on the matter of indoor dining.

Cabinet is expected to approve plans for the resumption of indoor hospitality today (July 12th). According to a report in the Irish Examiner, the government will sign off on proposals that will guarantee a reopening of indoor drinks and dining by July 23rd at the latest.

As expected, the reopening of hospitality later this month will be restricted to those who have been fully vaccinated and those who have recently recovered from Covid-19, as well as children under the age of 18 who are accompanied by their fully vaccinated parent or guardian.

Those who are eligible to avail of the return to indoor dining will be sent a QR code that will serve as proof of vaccination, which can be presented via app, on paper, or within an email.

The report also suggests that fully vaccinated customers from Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom or the USA will also be able to get food or drink indoors when spots reopen between July 19th and July 23rd.

Plans on reopening indoor dining and drinks have been divisive, with some pointing out the irony that unvaccinated young people can work in indoor hospitality, but cannot avail of indoor hospitality.

Michael O’Donovan, Chairman or the VFI and owner of Cork’s Castle Inn, has also noted that admission based on the vaccination QR code will be “problematic at best” to implement.

Indoor dining had originally been scheduled to reopen on July 5th, but was pushed back following rising Covid cases.

Header image via Instagram/@Beautifull_People_Of_Cork