'This is about protecting lives,' Ciara and Vincent are backing the 'corona pass' for indoor dining

'I’m not even sorry if that upsets certain people,' Ciara and Vincent are backing the 'corona pass' for indoor dining despite reservations from some parts of the population. Elsewhere, NPHET will not be changing its advice on indoor dining “anytime soon” according to the Taoiseach. Representatives of the hospitality industry met with Government officials this afternoon to discuss ways to reopen indoor dining on July 19th. One option under consideration is a self-regulated vaccine pass system, with pubs and restaurants asking customers to produce a letter proving they are fully vaccinated. The letter is due to go out to all vaccinated people in the coming days to allow them to apply for the new EU Digital COVID certificate when it is launched on July 19th. The Restaurants Association of Ireland has previously warned that such a system would be unenforceable and potentially illegal. In a statement after the talks today they said a number of options were “discussed at length with a view to try and reopen indoor dining as soon as possible”. Ireland is the only country in the EU that still has a ban on indoor dining. While some countries require a so-called ‘corona pass’ to eat inside, the passes can be obtained by sitting a negative rapid antigen test. By contrast, NPHET has advised the Government that people in Ireland should only be permitted to dine indoors if they have recovered from the virus or are fully vaccinated.