Taoiseach says we can accelerate reopening of society and business

- Outdoor gatherings of 200 can resume from June 29, and of 500 from July 20

Varadkar says relaxed roadmap comes with terms and conditions:

Distance: always try to stay 2m away from others

Activity: Wash your hands and wear a facemask

Time: Spending longer with someone else increases your risk

Environment: A poorly ventilated area increases the risk

- Hairdressers and barbers will be allowed to reopen from June 29th as will places of worships and gyms.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has outlined the rephasing of the Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business. In an address from Government Buildings this evening, he said:

"As a country we got through this without giving way to despair. This spirit of hope proved to be contagious and it has brought us to where we are now… ahead of schedule.

"We can accelerate the reopening of our society and economy with most things in the Roadmap being moved to Phase 3.

The speech in full.

"These past few months have been among the toughest in our country's history, loved ones have been lost, and it has taken a toll on so many of us emotionally, mentally and physically.

"In the darkest moments I think we all worried how bad things would get. How much more people would have to suffer. Before we got through the worst as a country, we got through this without giving way to despair. By looking out for each other. By staying hopeful. The spirit of hope proved to be contagious and has brought us to where we are now, ahead of schedule. Able to accelerate the opening of our society and our economy. After studying the expert advice of Nphet we have today, approved the refacing of the roadmap.

"Apart from some exceptions. Most things are now being moved to Phase 3 beginning on Monday the 29th of June. I'm making this announcement today to give people time to prepare so the places, can be ready to reopen. For example, churches and places of worship, gyms, cinemas, leisure facilities on yes hairdressers beauticians and barber shops in phase three, which we expect to commence on Monday, the 29th of June. All sporting activities, including close contact sports can we commence. This includes team leagues for adults and children.

"But we all need to stay careful. It will not be as it was before the start of the pandemic. For now sports will take place with very limited numbers of spectators. For making progress, but this announcement comes with terms and conditions. The virus hasn't gone away, we're all still susceptible. People still work from home if they can, mass gatherings of people will be limited to 50 people indoors and 200 people outdoors, until the 20th of July. All going well. This will rise to 100 people indoors and 500 people outdoors.

"Thereafter, as our country is reopened in a controlled and measured way. Personal Responsibility will become more important than ever before. So we're asking people to consider four things before making a decision about doing something. And at all times, evaluate the risk for yourself and to others. These four things are distance activity, time, and environment or DATE for short.

Distance: always try to stay 2m away from others

Activity: Wash your hands and wear a facemask

Time: Spending longer with someone else increases your risk

Environment: A poorly ventilated area increases the risk

"This rephrasing of the roadmap has been made possible by the solidarity you have shown, and the sacrifices decisions and choices that you've made over the last few months. That has made it possible for us the nation to suppress this virus. Instead of being forced back. We've been able to push the spread of the virus back and advance forward. There's of course more work we need to do. I would need to show the same determination ambition now, and leading our economic recovery, creating new jobs, getting people back to work and businesses reopened.

"Many of you have asked how quickly can we bounce back, and how long will it take before our economy returns to where it was before. The truth is we cannot know for sure.

"Some have asked whether's there's a limit to what we can achieve. My answer is that limit does not exist. We've been here before. And we know the way as we know what needs to be done. And the next roadmap will be a roadmap for economic recovery. The National recovery plan.

"And in the years to come. We will never forget how the world was in 2020. Never again will we take something as simple as a haircut for granted, or time spent with parents or grandparents or meeting friends for a drink. Thankfully, we found ways to stay connected, even when we were forced apart. The mission of the next government will be to repair all that has been damaged by this crisis. And if we carry forward in the same spirit of solidarity determination and hope that we have nothing to fear. Nothing is beyond us.

"We will need to continue to act responsibly.

"Understand that we have no treatment or vaccine for this virus. And until such time as we do. We'd be living a very different type of life, a life where we can again do so many things that are important to us and our families.

"As a nation, we've been through a shared experience. And as you move forward, we will never forget what we've lost, what we've learned and what we've gained. Thank you very much."