Irish President Michael D. Higgins has signed into law controversial legislation on indoor drinking and dining. From Monday, checks of vaccination certificates will be made before seating customers.
Anyone eating at a restaurant or drinking at a pub in Ireland, will only be seated indoors if they can show that they have been double-jabbed or recently returned a negative covid test.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, Alan Grehan, manager of Sprezzatura restaurant in Dublin, said that he believes checking for certification will become second nature for staff. He said that pub and restaurant owners have been very good at following procedures and guidelines.
The Vintner’s Federation (a trade organisation representing pubs in Ireland) is fully behind the use of vaccine certificates. Chief Executive Pádraig Cribben told RTÉ that the guidelines that will allow pubs to reopen on Monday are almost complete.
His only concern is a logistical one. Cribben said:
“While our members will be relieved to reopen next Monday there remains a significant challenge in policing the vaccine pass. It will require the full support of the public to ensure this temporary solution runs smoothly.”
Ireland is lost.
