Freedom Friday: Taoiseach confirms end to majority of public health restrictions

- Bars and restaurants to operate as normal from 6 a.m. tomorrow

- Covid passes and social distancing unnecessary

- No limits on indoor or outdoor capacities

The Cabinet has agreed to lift almost all restrictions from 6 a.m. tomorrow allowing bars, restaurants and nightclubs to trade normally and without the need for Covid passes or social distancing.

Events held both indoor and outside will not have any crowd limits imposed on them.

Any number of households will be able to gather too.

And the gradual return to the workplace will get under way from Monday.

NPHET gave the green light to ending most of the restrictions and, because it did not specify any timeline, left it up to the Cabinet to decide on the speed by which this will happen.

This evening in an address to the nation Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "At every stage of this crisis, I've been straight with you and made clear that your government will be guided by the science that our decisions will be guided first and foremost by the need to protect lives and public health.

"Our journey through the pandemic has brought many twists and turns. And I stood here and spoken to you on some very dark days.

"But today is a good day.

"Earlier my government colleagues and I met to consider the latest report from the National Public Health Emergency Team.

"That report confirmed that we have weathered the Omicron variant, it confirmed that the rate of infection is reducing. And that all of the key indicators on which we base our decisions has stabilised and are going in the right direction.

"It confirmed that Ireland's world class vaccination programme and the roll-out of boosters has utterly transformed our situation.

"It was vaccinations and boosters that prevented the recent wave of infection translating into much more serious levels of illness and death.

"Based on this evidence, we've concluded that the rationale and justification for continuing most of our public health restrictions are no longer in place.

"Therefore, from 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, the majority of public health measures that we've had to live with will be removed.

'Guidance in relation to household visiting will no longer apply restrictions on capacity for all indoor and outdoor events will no longer apply.

'Closing time for hospitality and events will return to where it was before the pandemic.

"The Covid Pass requirement for access to hospitality and indoor activities will no longer apply, the various requirements around managing people's movements, indoor hospitality and entertainment venues will no longer be required.

"And the phased return to the physical workplace for all staff can now commence because of the international situation.

"There are no changes to the current measures in place in relation to international travel. And a limited number of protective measures will remain in place for the coming month.

"Based on the advice of NPHET the wearing of masks where they are currently required. We continue similarly protective measures will remain in place in primary and secondary schools.

"Also, the advice for those with symptoms, positive cases and close contacts remains in place. These will be reviewed before the end of February, by which time all children aged between five and 11 will have had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated.

"I want to strongly encourage all parents to engage with your GP. Talk to them about the vaccine, ask any questions and tease out any concerns you may have.

"The vaccine is safe for children and we keep them safe indeed my message to everyone could not be clearer. Vaccination is key. The evidence is there to see the unvaccinated and the unboosted suffer the most.

"I want to be clear also that the pandemic isn't over. It will still require all of us to be vigilant.

"The changes we are making will likely lead to a temporary rise in infections in the short term, but we are advised that the impact of this rise will be limited by the scale of vaccination in the population.

"It is important also to say that I can promise you there won't be for the twists in this pandemic requiring different decisions in the future. But I do know this solidarity with each other.

"And trust in science has got us to where we are today and will get us through whatever else this virus may throw at us. In the meantime, part of the job of government would be to make sure that we are prepared for any future wave of the disease.

"We will continue to expand our hospital and ICU capacity we will continue our investment in an expanded public health service. And we will embed the lessons learned in the pandemic into community and primary care services. We will ensure that we are ready for any future surges.

"I have stood here on many dark days but today is a good day," he said in a televised address this evening.

"Our vaccination programme will continue and work is underway to ensure that a flexible and robust vaccine delivery system is in place for the future. The recovery of our society and economy is already underway, and we will continue to do what is necessary to support it.

"But today is a good day. And we should all take a moment to appreciate how far we've come to appreciate the effort and sacrifice of those who put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe to remember and appreciate the lives and contribution of those we lost.

"We think of all those who died with Covid and, indeed, all those who passed away over the course of the last two years, who were not able to mourn as we would have liked her as they deserved.

"Today's news would be warmly welcomed by many, but unconscious that some among us including our more vulnerable, will be feeling some anxiety about re engaging with others.

"For those who do feel like that. I'd ask you to be open about it. Share it. We all need to be open with each other, be supportive of each other. Mind each other."

Ibec welcomes significant easing of most Covid public health restrictions

Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, has welcomed the announcement from government this evening of the significant easing of most Covid public health restrictions from tomorrow morning.

Ibec also welcomed that the announcement signalled that greater personal responsibility for individuals and autonomy for businesses in their office operations will be afforded in this next phase.

Ibec CEO Danny McCoy stated: “After many challenging months, it is welcome to be able to acknowledge the progress that our society and business has made collectively to reach the point whereby government are announcing an easing of most Covid public health restrictions.

"This will mark an important next step towards recovery for many industries, including the Experience Economy which bore much of the burden of previous restrictions.

“While challenges remain, Ibec holds that greater personal responsibility for individuals, and autonomy for businesses in their office operations must be central to the government’s approach in managing the next phase as we progress towards a return to normality.

"It is welcome to see government aligned with the business community in supporting a phased returns to the workplace over the coming weeks and business will continue to work to ensure that this is done safely.

“In addition, business welcomes government’s commitment to the continuation of Covid supports for businesses. While today is undoubtedly positive, it will take time for many companies to return to pre-Covid levels of trading.

"These Covid supports will be invaluable in guiding them to this point.”