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LAST UPDATE | 16 Nov 2021
REPRESENTATIVE GROUPS IN the hospitality sector have called for greater supports as the new Government measures were mooted today.
The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) have all reacted against the proposed regulations on the night time trade.
Pubs, nightclubs and restaurants will be directed to close at midnight, effective from Thursday night following a Cabinet decision this morning. The announcement was made this evening in an address by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Speaking tonight, Martin said: “We have also decided that the closing time for all on-licensed premises will be midnight, with all customers having to vacate the premises by that time.
“The requirement for Covid passes, based on vaccination or recovery, will now be put on a statutory basis for cinemas and theatres. Many are already doing this, but the requirement now applies to all.”
One business manager, speaking earlier about the impact of the uncertainty around Covid-19 regulations said, “Last week we had 21 corporate Christmas events booked. By last Friday that was down to seven. Today there are five remaining”.
The move comes following increasing concerns about the pressure being put on hospitals as a result of the spread of Covid-19 – the plan comes less than a month after nightclubs had reopened.
Widening the use of the Covid certs across society is also to be implemented, with passes required for entry into theatres and cinemas.
The LVA has said the measures will be extraordinarily difficult for those working in late bars, nightclubs and the rest of the late night sector and will place considerable pressures on livelihoods in the run up to Christmas.
Donal O’Keeffe, CEO of the LVA also said it places a question mark on the longer term viability of the late night industry until such time as practical longer term solutions are developed that allow businesses to trade while the pandemic persists.
“Effectively this latest announcement means that the current Government strategy isn’t working.
“We were told that if we waited until the majority of the public was vaccinated we would be able to get back to trading. Well we waited and that wasn’t enough.
“Like the rest of the country, of course we are conscious of the worsening health situation. But this will still be really hard news for those working in the sector to take.
“Late night hospitality was closed for 585 consecutive days, got to open for 27 days and now they face another indefinite period of closure.
“It also needs to be acknowledged that every time the Government flicks the switch on restrictions there are consequences for people’s livelihoods and the businesses that sustain those livelihoods. We will have enormous difficulty retaining our staff after this latest decision,” he added.
O’Keeffe called on Government to come up with “more nuanced, longer term, practical solutions”.
He queried if affordable ventilation system schemes should be made available to the industry.
“In the short term it is critical that the Government immediately outlines the reintroduction of the full level of supports for the people who will once again find themselves out of work and for the businesses who employ them.
“That is the absolute minimum required and is the essential first step before our sector can begin a bigger conversation about what co-existing with this pandemic really means,” he added.
More job losses in the industry are being forecast by the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) following the fresh restrictions on bar and nightclub closing times.
The new curfew is already leading to cancellation by venues of bands, DJs and other entertainers, the group said in a statement this evening.
As a result of the new restrictions, the MEAI has called on the Government to immediately reinstate the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and other necessary supports for the survival of the entertainment industry.
“We fully understand the need for measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, to protect the public and our health system, but it is vital that livelihoods are protected too,” said Matt McGranaghan, spokesperson for MEAI.
Padraig Cribben of the VFI said the development is “hugely disappointing” just three weeks after reopening.
“The decision to introduce a new closing time of midnight from this Thursday will effectively close many late night pubs and night clubs.
“It will also seriously restrict other outlets at the most critical time of the year. Given the deteriorating health situation it’s no surprise Government is forced to take action but it is disappointing that the hospitality sector is at forefront of those actions.
“Supports will now be vital for impacted businesses and we’re calling for the immediate reintroduction of the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) for members who have to close,” he said.
Cribben said that the restricted trading hours will also impact traditional pubs who have to cope with cancelled bookings ahead of the Christmas period.
“Given the new curfew and reduced trade the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) must be maintained in full until all restrictions are removed.
“We were told back in August after indoor trade was reopened that restrictions would be fully removed in October.
“We’re now in a position where restrictions are actually getting tighter. Supports will be crucial in the months ahead, a fact Government needs to address immediately for the simple reason the trade cannot sustain another period of profound uncertainty,” Cribben added.
Adrian Cummins of the RAI said that urgent supports must be put in place to help his sector colleagues.
“Restaurants Association of Ireland is calling on the Government to trigger the Re- activation of the CRSS (COVID Recovery Support Scheme) for Hospitality impacted by the decline in business due to mixed messaging by Government.
“The narrative of reducing social contacts is de-facto imposing restrictions on Hospitality businesses at a critical time for the sector in the run up to Christmas.
“The Hospitality sector is seeking a meeting with Government officials to discuss continued wage supports into the middle of 2022,” he added.
So much for people who say why vote, my vote doesn’t count. You can see here that every vote does count
@Alan: Well, every 35 anyway.
Hopefully he will stay in, last thing we need is another Liebour TD
This should mean PBP lose their speaking rights in the Dáil. Every cloud, eh readers?
@honey badger: Yawn. Bore off.
@honey badger: I believe it does. It’s an awful shame Paul Murphy managed to scrape in. But at least we won’t have to listen to him as much
@Ian: Cheer up, Ian. I’m sure you can watch their previous episodes on oireactas tv!
@Ger Whelan: It is an awful shame! It’s a small but welcome consolation that their lack of electoral traction has muzzled them.
@Ger Whelan:
Pop up Paul is actualy useful.
He sucks up the brain dead vote that would have gone to Sinn Fein.
@honey badger: You don’t understand how speaking rights work. They will form a group of 7 with another small party or independents for the sake of speaking rights.
You’d have none of this nonsense if the media hadn’t campaigned against e-voting
@Tom O’ Donnell: In 2024 there’s definetly a case to be made for online voting.
If our banks allow us to bank online and the taxman allows us to do our taxes online surely it’s not beyond the wit of man to figure out an online voting system.
There would be issues with the old and infirm being able to access it but then again not having to make their way to a polling station would possible balance that out.
The current system / circus is closer to the famine than autonomous cars and nuclear fusion.
@Tom O’ Donnell:
E voting in Brazil since 1996, population of 216 million, shows how backward we are in this country
@Tom O’ Donnell: The paper ballot is a permanent record, not vulnerable to hacking or whatever other online skullduggery can be dreamt up. A bulwark of democracy.
@John Brennan: Or even just simple coding (programming) errors.
@William Airey: I don’t think we need to learn anything about democracy from Brazil, thanks
Mick Barry is having a hard time accepting that Cork people do not want to be represented by a full-time whinger.
@D Farrell: Typical he has been rejected shouting and balling is not political discourse
@D Farrell: Very poor representative, never anything to offer, just anti everything.
@SV3tN8M4: oh the irony
A battle of the Commies.
@Dan Murphy: Isn’t that the truth. It’s a bit like choosing whether to get punched in the face or kicked in the crotch.
@Dan Murphy: Or to more accurate: a battle of the dictionary-shy who don’t understand what a communist is.
@SerotoninWars:
A communist is what you end up with after the socialists have finished wiping out the middleclasses.
Mick hasn’t been seen or heard of around our constituency up until 3/4 weeks ago. Absolute bluffer of a man. His lackies do all his work. Change it up and give Maher a chance. Mick’s a waking sound bite (the rare time he pops up) like election time
@Alan Murphy: Spot on.
@Alan Murphy: He got an easy in 2016 after labour were wiped out, Kathleen Lynch , had to look her up btw did so much for that area, including getting back paid SW for women who were discriminated against……I went school in the North Mon in the 70s so it’s a place that I genuinely love…….well done Labour Toddy is looking down happily
Getting in this late seems like an ‘I was the best of the worst’ badge of honneur.
Way too many TDs in Ireland.
@offside again: Feck off
Delighted for the young guy from Mallow even though the other Labour party candidate John Maher gave a lot of transfers to Mick Barry. City voters versus Mallow voters. Best of Luck to Eoin a budding politician since birth.
@Tim Brennan: And whatabout Sarsfields beating Ballygunner…..that’s the real story…..wrong constituency but what the feck
Well our democracy allows for this so let it happen, if Labour prevails great as its a long time since there was a Labour TD in that constituency…..I think it was Toddy O O’Sullivan, although Democratic Left had that lady…..and they merged so maybe it’s not that long.
Barry and Co have a real problem with the voters having elected people to govern those who choose the sideline are the real problem. You’re elected to govern in this Dail not the next one.
Hello to all the lads blindly hoping Mick Barry loses his seat because some lad with a cameraphone told them he was a ‘communist’.
Mick has a smile that could light up Cork North Central
“Queer activists” no wonder the people rejected him
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