Fáilte Ireland has issued operational guidelines for hospitality businesses for the re-opening of indoor hospitality on Monday July 26.

Though branded as guidelines, effectively they are rules. The guidelines are available at  https://covid19.failteireland.ie/operational-guidelines.

The key element of this 'guidance' is that reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that only a ‘permitted person’ is admitted to pubs, restaurants, cafes etc. They are defined as people with acceptable proof of immunity, or children under 18 in their care.

Details of acceptable proofs of immunity, including the EU Digital Covid Certificate, are available at  gov.ie/reopeninghospitality.

Businesses may check the validity of Digital Covid Cert using the online QR scanner at gov.ie/DCCchecker.

In Association with

Customers may also be asked to present a photo ID to show that the proof of immunity relates to them.

The time limit for sitting at tables has been removed and there is no requirement for pre-booking.

A maximum of 6 people aged 13 or over are permitted at a table. This limit does not include accompanying children aged 12 or younger. The total combined capacity at a table cannot exceed 15 overall, and mingling between tables is not permitted.

Diners and drinkers will be obliged to wear a face mask other than when sitting at a table. All staff have to wear face masks at all times.

Counter service is prohibited and upcoming regulations, with legal sanction and financial penalties, will provide for people to be served at tables only. The stated rationale is to  protect unvaccinated workers. All premises have to to close at 11.30 pm, and there is no rationale offered for this stricture

The lead person in a group booking will  be required to provide contact tracing details.

Photo: Sixteen months after being shuttered by government order, Eamon Irish’s bar in Knocktopher, Co Kilkenny, is re-opening on July 26. (Pic: Conor McCabe)