Monday next will also see an increase to a maximum of 200 attendees for the majority of outdoor venues, and 500 for outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000. Meanwhile, the number of people allowed at wedding receptions will increase to 50 next Monday. 

The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) said it will reject any move to separate the vaccinated from the non-vaccinated, describing the suggestion as “ridiculous and unworkable” as debate around indoor reopening continues. Representatives from the hospitality industry are set to meet government ministers today amid the outpour of anger at yesterday’s announcement.

A new survey by the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland has found a major rise in mental health referrals and relapses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In case you missed it yesterday, Fórsa is to commence a new national campaign to highlight the value of the role of special needs assistants (SNAs), following the Department of Education’s refusal of a union claim for a new minimum qualification for SNAs, which has not been altered since the introduction of the ‘Childcare Assistant’ scheme in 1979. Read more on that here. 

Elsewhere, ICTU general secretary Patricia King has said the pandemic has revealed the actual essential workers, and they should be paid a decent wage, while also calling for more Government resources to be invested into public services. This while engaging in the National Economic Dialogue which continues online today. The theme of the engagement is building a sustainable recovery post-Covid.

And lastly, the UK government has announced new legislation to allow central and local governments greater freedom to support business. The Subsidy Control Bill will replace EU-wide state aid rules which require member states to seek approval for government assistance to firms.

Zen 

For Zen today, I wanted to include a Youtube channel that I recently came across, which just might be one of the most wholesome things to exist on the internet. The channel “Dad, How Do I?” run by Rob Kenney (also known as ‘Internet Dad’) features his classic DIY videos, including how to tie a tie, how to shave a face, a regular series called Tool Tuesdays, inspirational messages such as “I am proud of you,” and “You got this!” as well as quirky, lovably awkward dad jokes for anyone who might be looking for fatherly advice and affirmation.

Kenney said his motivation for the channel stems from his rough childhood after his father left their family when he was a teen. He and his seven siblings longed to have someone to teach them basic survival skills. So he did it himself.