Tanaiste says lockdown easing can be summed up in two words: hope and caution.

Mr Varadkar said the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and other supports will remain in place for the time being. He also said the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector will remain in place at least until the end of the year. “By the end of May, the government will set out a plan as to what we’re going to do with all these financial supports from July onwards, but I do want to make it very clear that there will not be a cliff edge,” Mr Varadkar said. “We expect to see a rebound in consumer spending, from the middle of May, perhaps even a little mini boom, given the scale of pent up demand, and the amount of savings that have been accrued,” he said.