There will be no time limits on visits to pubs and restaurants when they reopen next month, according to the Tánaiste.

Leo Varadkar has also confirmed that last year’s €9 ‘substantial meal requirement will also be scrapped.

There will be no more than six people allowed at a table and all tables will have to be between one metre and one-and-a-half metres apart.

Outdoor dining is due to return on June 7th, with hotels permitted to begin serving indoors from June 2nd.

Leo Varadkar said he believes widespread indoor dining won't be far behind.

“My priority now, rather than having a complicated set of criteria for a two or three-week period is to get the decision to allow restaurants and pubs to open indoors,” he said.

“I think if they knew they were going to be able to do that in the first week or so of July, that two or three-week period might be more acceptable.”

Restaurants and pubs are still waiting on formal advice from Fáilte Ireland; however, Mr Varadkar gave an overview of how it will work.

“To give you a rough idea, it is going to be seated only – a metre or a metre-and-a-half between tables – no more than six at a table,” he said. “They can come from any number of households.

“There will be no rule of 15 – if you have the space, you have the space. There will be no requirement to buy a substantial meal – that will be gone – and we don’t anticipate there will be a limit on the amount of time you can stay.”

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