Indoor dining
Members of the Government are due to meet with hospitality representatives today, following the delay to the reopening of indoor dining until July 19th.
In an announcement on Tuesday, the Government confirmed indoor dining would only be extended to people who have been fully vaccinated, with officials working to have a verification system in operation by the reopening date.
The decision has faced much criticism from opposition parties and hospitality groups, with chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) Adrian Cummins calling the measures discriminatory and not workable.
PUP registration
The registration for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will remain open until July 7th.
The registration had been due to close today, however the date was pushed back following the Government's decision to delay the reopening of indoor hospitality.
Representatives from the hospitality sector have warned thousands of jobs are at risk because of the postponed reopening, however, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe confirmed on Tuesday that businesses who will remain closed or heavily restricted will be able to claim additional support under the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS).
The additional supports, which will amount to a double week payment, will be available for two weeks from July 5th, subject to the statutory cap of €5,000 per week.
Vaccine rollout
The HSE is working to implement recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) regarding the use of AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines (also known as Janssen) to younger people.
Niac revised their earlier advice that the two vaccines should only be used for people over 50, with the updated recommendation expected to speed up the rollout of the vaccine to all age groups and avoid wastage.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly predicted all eligible adults may now be offered a vaccine by August, if vaccine supply targets are met.
Waterford fatal collision
Gardaí are appealing for information after a woman was killed in a serious collision in Co Waterford on Tuesday.
The incident took place at approximately 4pm, with gardaí and emergency services called to the two-car collision on the R682 between Tramore and Tramore Cross.
A woman in her 80s, who was a passenger in one of the cars, was pronounced dead at the scene and three other people were taken to University Hospital Waterford for treatment.
'Sausage war'
A deal to hold off a post-Brexit ban on sausages and other chilled meats moving from Britain to the North is expected to be announced later today.
The UK and the European Union are set to announce an extension to a grace period allowing their movement across the Irish Sea — hours before a ban would come into force.
Brussels’ post-Brexit negotiator Maros Sefcovic is scheduled to address the media this afternoon, while the UK is expected to issue a statement.
