{"id":22901,"date":"2021-08-27T14:38:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T18:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22901"},"modified":"2021-08-29T10:41:41","modified_gmt":"2021-08-29T14:41:41","slug":"taoiseach-praises-vaccination-program-as-he-looks-to-continue-easing-lockdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22901","title":{"rendered":"Taoiseach Praises Vaccination Program As He Looks To Continue Easing Lockdown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Miche\u00e1l Martin said that specific details will be worked out before a meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday (PA Wire\/PA Media)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin has said that the Government will continue with the easing of restrictions, citing the State\u2019s high rates of vaccination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin said on Friday health officials estimate that close to 90 per cent of Irish people aged 16 and over will be vaccinated by September 6th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe vaccination program has been an incredible success,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health officials had recommended that the Government wait for that 90 per cent target to be reached before contemplating any major easing of restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking after a meeting of the Covid-19 Cabinet sub-committee, Mr Martin said: \u201cWe are very close, in the next number of weeks, to reaching the optimal number we can reach in terms of vaccination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged anyone not already vaccinated to register for a vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGovernment wants to reopen society, but we want to do it in a safe way. That is our key message and our key objective,\u201d Mr Martin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach said that discussions will continue before the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, with the sub-committee meeting again on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can certainly see a lifting of restrictions in some areas in terms of entertainment and theatre and the arts in September,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that the timeline for the reopening of nightclubs\u00a0would be \u201cdeliberated upon\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin confirmed that the Government was looking at increasing the number of people able to attend outdoor events, but declined to give specific details of how such events would be managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He did indicate the Government is not considering introducing vaccination certificates for outdoor events \u2013 he said that Ireland\u2019s high vaccine uptake rates meant that such documents will not be necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin confirmed that by Tuesday the Government would have a plan and a road map ready for the coming months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think September will be a significant month,\u201d Mr Martin predicted.<\/p>\n

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