A return for indoor live music, extended trading hours and the removal of table size limits may be lifted next month, it has been reported.
As Ireland's vaccination programme increases, the hospitality sector is expected to ask government leaders to further ease Covid-19 restrictions.
The calls for additional changes to be made come following a tumultuous week for the sector after the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar admitted to being one of the VIP guests at the garden party in the Merrion Hotel that was hosted by a former ministerial colleague of his, Katherine Zappone, on July 21.
The news infuriated the hospitality sector who had been operating in line with Fáilte Ireland guidelines that put a limit of six adults per party on gatherings.
It was later confirmed that parties for up to 200 people are now allowed outdoors and live music is back for outside areas in pubs and restaurants.
However, it's expected that these changes are just the first of many that are on the way and these include:
Seating rules and closing hours
Over the weekend, it was reported that bars and restaurants could be allowed to stay open beyond 11.30pm and a limit on the number of people who can sit at each table may be scrapped.
The CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) has said that live music and a return to normal trading hours will be the main areas that the Government should be looking at improving within the hospitality sector.
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Further changes are expected to be introduced later this month and in a post online, Adrian Cummins, CEO of the RAI, said that the nighttime element of the hospitality sector urgently needs a plan of recovery, as does the "normalisation of trading hours."
Mr Cummins said: "Government will publish a roadmap for reopening hospitality fully at end of August/ early September. Nighttime - live music economy really need a plan to return to normality. Normalisation of trading hours will have to be part of the plan."
At present, live music and performances are permitted in outdoor hospitality settings only, as long as the set-up adheres to all relevant Covid-19 guidance.
As part of that, the performance area must be a minimum of two metres from all customers. The guidelines also specified that "no live/loud music or performances are permitted indoors", and dancing is still not allowed.
In terms of the seating rules that customers have to abide by, people are now able to book multiple tables in an outdoor area, however, once they are seated, “intermingling” will not be permitted between these tables.
The rule remains that the numbers at tables are limited to a maximum of six people, aged 13 or over - and the total combined capacity of a table cannot exceed 15 overall.
However, this is expected to change in the upcoming weeks and any changes look set to come into force by mid-September when the majority of the country will be vaccinated.
The return of nightclubs, late bars and live music
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The CEO of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) has said that he would like to see late bars and nightclubs returning in September along with a push to allow the return of indoor live music later this month.
Noel Anderson said the organisation will also be seeking discussions about the return of music indoors.
The LVA has said: "In light of the latest developments around the permitting of music in outdoor settings, the LVA is seeking urgent discussions on the resumption of all forms of music incl live performances & DJs in indoor settings as well as plans to support the return of late bars and nightclubs."
At present, nightclubs, discos and casinos are all closed.
The remaining rules
The Chief Executive of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) believes it's "only a matter of time" before the remaining rules on indoor hospitality are removed.
Padraig Cribben welcomed the clarity regarding the rules and believes that they're a positive move towards the removal of all rules governing indoor hospitality.
Mr Cribben said: “We welcome the clarity these new guidelines offer our members. Pubs are now permitted to facilitate outdoor parties for up to 200 people while live music makes a welcome return also in outdoor settings.
“The new guidelines make clear we’re moving towards a full reopening of society and it’s now only a matter of time before all restrictions in pubs such as mandatory table service and the ban on people sitting at bar counters are removed."
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