Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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9. To ask the Taoiseach the status of plans for reopening after level 5 Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. [38834/20]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Last Friday, the Government agreed the approach for easing restrictions, including a phased move to Level 3 nationally, with a number of exceptions in place for the Christmas period.

The exceptions for the Christmas period are designed to support people to have a meaningful Christmas, albeit different to other years. The main objective is to stay safe and keep the Covid numbers down so that we can maintain the lowest possible level of restrictions into the New Year.

People are advised to plan their activities in advance, to limit their contacts throughout this period and to keep celebrations small.

It is also advised that outdoors is safer than indoors and to ensure good ventilation if indoors with other people.

From 1^stDecember:

- Households should not mix with any other households outside those within their bubble;

- People should stay within their county apart from work, education and other essential purposes;

- People should continue to work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person;

- No indoor gatherings should take place. Gatherings of up to 15 people may take place outdoors;

- Non-essential retail and personal services may reopen;

- Hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs are open with services limited to residents only;

- Museums, galleries, and libraries may reopen;

- Cinemas may reopen;

- Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools may reopen for individual training only. No exercise or dance classes are permitted;

- Non-contact training may take place outdoors in pods of 15;

- No matches/events may take place except professional and elite sports, approved inter-county Gaelic games, greyhound and horse-racing and approved equestrian events, all behind closed doors;

- Public transport capacity is limited to 50%;

- Places of worship to reopen for services with restrictive measures, subject to review in January;

- Weddings with up to 25 guests are permitted (same as current provisions);

- Funerals with up to 25 mourners are permitted (same as current provisions);

- Higher, further and adult education should remain primarily online.

From 4^thDecember:

- Restaurants and pubs operating as restaurants (serving a €9 substantial meal) may reopen for indoor dining with additional restrictions, (including requirement for meals to be prepared on site, inside the premises). This includes access for non-residents to restaurants in hotels. Wet pubs to remain closed except for takeaway/delivery.

In recognition of the importance of the holiday season, particularly in relation to visiting family, from 18^thDecember to 6^thJanuary:

- Households can mix with up to two other households; and

- Travel outside your county to be permitted.

From the 7^thof January, the measures put in place prior to the 18^thof December will apply, subject to ongoing review of the trajectory of the virus.

The measures for cross-border travel will be the same as for travel between all other counties, i.e. from 1^stDecember, people should stay within their county apart from work, education and other essential purposes while from 18th December to 6th January, travel outside the county is permitted.

It has further been agreed that the use of facemasks is now recommended in crowded workplaces, places of worship and in busy or crowded outdoor spaces where there is significant congregation.