Government considering ‘family only’ gatherings and keeping wet pubs closed over Christmas period

The Government is considering asking the public to limit close contacts over Christmas to just their own family, according to reports this morning.

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin is reportedly facing increased pressure to move the country to Level 2 restrictions in December, which would allow travel between counties and fewer restrictions on people visiting each other’s homes. However, Martin has suggested that he feels Level 3 restrictions might be more beneficial, with some changes to allow for indoor dining at restaurants.

The Irish Times is reporting that a number of ‘modified measures’ are being considered for when Level 5 restrictions end on December 1. These include people keeping contacts ‘family orientated particularly over Christmas,’ while there is ‘increased pessimism’ that pubs that don’t serve food will be allowed to reopen next month.

Yesterday, publicans issued a call for the industry to be allowed reopen, saying if it doesn’t, Irish society will be faced with a ‘two-tier Christmas’ in which pub staff ‘won’t be able to afford Christmas for their families on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment’.

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