The Taoiseach has said that the easing of Covid restrictions in May might include [1] a lifting of the blanket ban on public worship, one of only two in Europe.
This reiterates the Government’s plan announced on March 30th [2].
The Taoiseach made his remarks to media after a cabinet meeting yesterday, to the Dáil [3], and in a letter to church leaders. The Government’s decision will however be subject to the advice of NPHET.
While giving no date for the move, Micheal Martin said a more detailed plan would be published next week.
In a statement last Sunday, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin said he considered a recent statutory instrument confirming religious gatherings are a criminal offence to be “formally enacting a potential infringement of religious freedom and of constitutional rights [4]”, and he called for its “suspension”.
In a meeting with the Health Minister Monday, he called for the pastoral work of priests and religious ministers to be deemed essential [5].