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Leo Varadkar has said that advice on face masks will be issued to the public.<\/p>\nLeo Varadkar has said that advice on face masks will be issued to the public.<\/p>\n
Earlier today, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland will begin to reopen on May 18 and will continue in five three-week phases.<\/p>\n
The first phase will begin on May 18 after what the Taoiseach called “two more weeks of tight restrictions”.<\/p>\n
The Government also published a \u201croadmap to ease restrictions\u201d.<\/p>\n
In an interview on RT\u00c9\u2019s Late Late Show on Friday night, Mr Varadkar said the Government intended to issue advice to the public at the start of phase one recommending the wearing of face masks in certain social situations.<\/p>\n
He said face covering would be advised in shops and on public transport and any other crowded places where social distancing was not possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause in the scientific community the jury is still out on this, it\u2019s not something that\u2019s going to be enforceable by law but people will be given advice on it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar also suggested that the showpiece GAA All-Ireland finals could take place in the autumn, albeit without crowds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose there\u2019s a possibility of an All-Ireland this year, obviously that\u2019s a matter for the GAA,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot with spectators, but it could be done.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s possible. You\u2019d be talking August and September, it would be a later calendar than we\u2019re used to.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the Leaving Cert, he said the plan remained for the exams to start on July 29 with pupils having two weeks\u2019 class time prior to that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still the plan that sixth years will get some class time before the exams start on the 29th of July, there is a lot of work going on how this can be done safely with social distancing, it\u2019s not straightforward, it is difficult,\u201d the Taoiseach told the Late Late.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd of course we are still exploring alternatives, like for example predictive marking, but that\u2019s not perfect either, but we\u2019ll be guided by the public health advice at the end of the day whatever takes place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said the plan was a \u201cliving document\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said steps outlined in later phases could potentially be implemented sooner if possible.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach also predicted that the two-meter social distancing guidelines could be reduced, potentially in half.<\/p>\n