Mica protests
Thousands of demonstrators are expected to gather in Dublin today, demanding a 100 per cent redress scheme for homes and properties affected by mica.
Crowds are due to arrive from Mayo and Donegal, two of the worst counties impacted by mica, gathering outside the Convention Centre while the Dáil is in session.
Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien is expected to engage with the protesters to reassess the current redress scheme and "see how we can make it work better," according to Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.
Travel restrictions
The Government is to consider extending the length of time passengers arriving from Britain must quarantine at home due to concerns regarding the spread of the Covid-19 Delta variant.
The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has said people travelling from Britain to the Republic of Ireland will be required to quarantine for 10 days instead of five.
Currently, they can shorten the length of time they are required to quarantine by obtaining a negative/non-detected Covid-19 test no less than five days after their arrival.
The Delta variant, which was first identified in India, is now the dominant strain in Britain and is proving to be more transmissible than the previously dominant Alpha strain.
On Monday, UK prime minister Boris Johnson announced the final stage of England's easing of Covid-19 restrictions will be postponed from June 21st to July 19th due an increase in case numbers attributed to the variant.
Third-level return
Plans are underway to get third-level students back on campus next semester.
More than 200,000 third-level students will be allowed to return from September with nearly all facilities fully open under proposals being brought to Government today.
Further clarity on the return of larger lectures will be subject to the outcome of a report on the latest public health data and information, due to be delivered to Mr Harris’s department next month.
Vaccine rollout
The registration portal for Covid-19 vaccines is expected to open later this week for people aged in their 30s.
People in their age category will reportedly be offered mRNA vaccines, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, following earlier advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac).
Meanwhile, anyone over the age of 50 who has not yet received a vaccine can now get one in their local pharmacy.
They do not need to register online for the service but will instead need to book a vaccine appointment with a participating pharmacist from a list on the HSE’s website.
