With the pub industry waiting to hear whether establishments will be allowed to reopen on August 10, Leo Varadkar may have just given the game away.
After today's meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team, where the benefits of moving into phase 4 of the roadmap were discussed, Leo Varadkar was questioned about where things stand.
On his way into a Cabinet meeting, he told journalists that "the pandemic is still raging across the world" and that even though Ireland is doing quite well relative to other European countries, "we want to make sure that we do nothing that jeopardises the reopening of schools and colleges in the next couple of weeks."
He added that "NPHET have recommended to Cabinet to take a very cautious approach over the next couple of weeks and I know that it will come as a further blow to some sectors."
Minutes after Varadkar spoke, Taoiseach Micheál Martin added that Cabinet had been given some "very firm advice" by NPHET.
An
official announcement on Ireland's entry into phase 4 is expected to be made this evening.
