WATCH: Progress hailed as Stormont agrees to reopening of indoor hospitality

Q Radio News/PA

A day of “positive progress” has been hailed as the Stormont Executive agreed to the reopening of indoor hospitality on Monday.

Ministers also agreed a “green list” for international travel, opening the way for holidaymakers to travel to a limited number of foreign destinations without having to quarantine on their return.

Portugal has been included on a list that is in line with those already agreed elsewhere in the UK.

Update on relaxations agreed at today’s Executive meeting.

This is a day of hope and optimism as we continue to make great progress.

There are brighter days ahead, we will come through this! pic.twitter.com/JpqCj1JPYv

— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) May 20, 2021

Following the virtual meeting of the Stormont Executive to review the latest raft of Covid-19 rules, it was agreed that from Monday May 24 indoor hospitality can resume while people will be able to meet inside private homes for the first time this year.

Six people from no more than two households will be able to meet in a private dwelling and stay overnight.

All tourism accommodation will also be able to reopen on May 24.

A limit on the size of outdoor gatherings will increase to 500 – a number that will also apply to the number of spectators able to attend sporting fixtures.

Indoor group exercise is allowed again, enabling indoor sports teams to resume training.

Indoor visitor and cultural attractions can also reopen from May 24 – this includes museums, galleries, cinemas, indoor play areas, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, bingo halls and libraries.

In regard to indoor hospitality, people can sit at tables of six people with no limit on households. It will be table service only.

Arlene Foster - has welcomed reopening.

Post-wedding and civil partnership receptions can also take place once again.

There will be no limit on the numbers at the top table, with a limit of 10 for other tables. Dancing will be restricted to a couple’s first dance.

Under relaxations agreed at Thursday’s Executive meeting, Stormont’s Stay Local message is also to be removed.

Schools can resume extra-curricular activities, indoor extra-curricular sports, outdoor inter-schools sports and day educational visits.

Ministers also considered Northern Ireland’s policy on international travel and have agreed a “green list” of countries where people can travel to without having to quarantine on their return.

There were discussions at the Executive whether Portugal would be among the countries on the list, with ministers ultimately agreeing to give the popular holiday destination green status.

NI Executive agrees international travel green list
Portugal, inc Azores & Madeira
Australia
Iceland
New Zealand
Faroe Islands
South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands
Gibraltar
Saint Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha
Brunei
Falkland Islands
Israel, Jerusalem
Singapore
In full: pic.twitter.com/ZxxWdE9uxi

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) May 20, 2021