Varadkar’s plan for click-and-collect shopping ‘still to be decided’

TÁNAISTE Leo Varadkar’s commitment to consider ending the ban on click-and-collect services next month has raised concerns among coalition partners in Fianna Fáil.

In an email to his parliamentary party, Mr Varadkar said there will be no major easing of Covid-19 restrictions until May. However, he said the Government will consider easing rules around the 5km travel ban, construction, outdoor activities and click and collect.

Mr Varadkar also told colleagues there is “no reason” to be “off message” as he set out the Government’s plans for the next two months.

The Tánaiste’s spokesperson said the letter “raised the possibility” that some elements of retail may be considered in May but said “any changes would have to be limited” and depend on public health advice.

“Click and collect is not specifically mentioned but is allowed in Level 5, and indeed all other levels, so could be considered for April 5th should things continue to go in the right direction. It was stopped because it was being used as a reasonable excuse to be outside the 5km limit, making it harder to enforce,” the spokesperson added.

However, a senior Fianna Fáil source in Government said it was “ironic” Mr Varadkar

raised the possibility of click and collect resuming while telling his TDs to stay on message. “There has been no decision on click and collect,” the source added.

The Government’s ‘Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead’ plan makes no reference to click and collect returning in May.

A senior Fine Gael source said Fianna Fáil “should look closer to home” if they are concerned about communication of the Government’s new Covid-19 plan.

Mr Varadkar’s announcement that the Government would consider allowing retailers to again let customers visit their premises to collect goods was made in a lengthy email setting out the seven key strands of their new plan.

He said March is about reopening schools, pre-schools and childcare which he said will involve “quite a lot of additional movement and interaction”.

“Nphet has advised and we agreed that any further relaxation of restrictions at the same time would be too risky and could jeopardise the safe reopening of education,” he said.

He said the vaccine programme will be ramped up in March and there will be roughly 100,000 vaccines administered a week.

He said this will increase to 200,000 to 300,000 a week in April.