Ireland will impose an 8pm closing time for restaurants and pubs, amid growing concern about the new Omicron variant. Ministers are still meeting this evening to discuss recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).
Nphet had recommended a 5pm curfew on hospitality and a cap on capacity at large outdoor events of 50%, or 5,000 people. Read more: What Plan C could look like in England as parts of UK announce strict Covid measures This had prompted considerable opposition among some Government backbenchers.
But after the decision to close hospitality at 8pm, Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said it was “a welcome acceptance of the intention of our advice”.