Ireland considers indoor hospitality vaccine pass...

 Ireland considers indoor hospitality vaccine pass...

A system which only permits those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to eat and drink indoors is being considered in the Republic of Ireland.

Consultation is now set to take place with the restaurant and hospitality industry.

The plans have been criticised by the Restaurants Association of Ireland, which said it was "astounded" that indoor hospitality could face a further delay.

'Unenviable, complex and difficult'

In a statement, the group said it believed the policy is discriminatory and unworkable.

"Restaurant, pub and café owners will now be placed in the unenviable, complex and difficult position of allowing vaccinated customers enter indoors and restricting non-vaccinated customers to outdoor dining," its chief executive Adrian Cummins said.

"Such a practice of refusing access to goods and services in currently illegal under equality acts."

He added that many people working in the hospitality sector are in the unvaccinated age groups, and could potentially be asked to refuse service to their peers.

Outdoor hospitality in the Republic has been reopen since 7 June, with social distancing and restrictions on the number of people who can meet in place.

In Northern Ireland, indoor hospitality has been reopened since Monday 24 May, with restrictions in place on the number of people and households able to meet.

Non-essential international travel is expected to resume on 19 July and the cabinet is also expected to give the green light to increasing the number of wedding guests to 50 next month.