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PUBS AND OTHER businesses could be open sooner than expected if businesses can get inventive and adhere to social distancing measures.
Yesterday, two groups representing publicans called on the government to explain why they cannot open in the same phase as restaurants.
Restaurants and cafes are earmarked to open in phase three (29 June) while pubs, bars, nightclubs, and casinos are not to open until phase five (10 August). The roadmap plan states that this affects venues where social distancing and strict cleaning can be complied with.
Speaking today at the launch of a new suite of business supports, and asked specifically about pubs, the Business Minister Heather Humphreys said if the rate of coronavirus cases goes down, there is no reason why reopening dates can’t be “accelerated”.
She said the phases of the planned roadmap are “not set in stone”. It is understood that if publicans can show they can operate within social distancing rules, and be inventive with outdoor spaces, some pubs could be open a lot sooner than August.
Humphreys said she spoke to the two main vintner associations during the week, and officials will be meeting with those associations in the coming days to discuss the matter of them opening sooner than what is set out in the plan.
“It’s about people working together to find the solution and of course, if we find that the coronavirus is abating considerably, well there’s no reason why these dates can’t be accelerated. But at the same time, if the opposite occurs we have the flexibility in this plan to stop as well,” said Humphreys.
She added that government understands it’s difficult for many in the sector.
“If we can keep the virus under control, and there is now a pathway for the hospitality sector. So restaurants can be back by the end of June, hotels by mid-July, and pubs by 10 August
“Many of them [had] concerns that they might [not have been] able to open at all in this year, so actually think the sector can take a lot of heart from the roadmap,” added the minister.
It was noted at yesterday’s launch that the plan is tentative and will be kept under constant review. While there is an ongoing possibility that restrictions could be re-imposed, there is also the possibility that some of the measures within each phase could be moved forward.
Humphreys said a national protocol on returning to work guidelines will be published next week. She said this will be key for businesses when considering when they can open their doors again. The guidelines are being drafted by the Health and Safety Authority, the HSE, business groups and unions.
She said the HSA will carry out inspections of workplaces and have enforcement powers for those who don’t comply with the rules.
Other than publicans, other businesses argue that they can put in place social distancing measures and should be allowed to reopen sooner than is set out in the plan.
Health Minister Simon Harris said the government will engage with any business that believes that they might be able to adapt to open in safe environment.
Officials will be meeting with publicans and other industries, he said, because operating a business where we have to keep our physical distance is going to pose huge challenges.
“So, if publicans or others can come forward and say ‘we have an idea, we think there is safe way of doing this’, they’ll absolutely get a hearing and we’ll absolutely constructively engage with them, there is no doubt about that whatsoever,” said Harris.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe wanted to emphasis that the decision that was made on that reopening was based on what is best for the public health of the country.
“Ultimately, businesses will have to take responsibility for themselves and make their own decisions. And this is the approach that we’ve taken so far. And I have to say it has been successful.
“We trusted businesses to be responsible, the vast majority of them have been responsible, and I can continue to trust them to be responsible,” Humphreys said.
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If people are eating they can keep social distancing.
As soon as there is drink onboard you relax and your guard goes down.
Would be far more difficult to police
@John Ward: that fact that publicans have to be told this is justification that they should stay closed.
You gotta fight for your right to party
@Modern Irish Dad: these places aren’t thinking straight, it’s not when they open, it’s will people flock to them when they do.
I give a lot of places a month or so after reopening and bust to follow. They are lucky now, imagine opening, paying for staff and products but no customers turn up.
@RJ: True true
The A/E departments have being quiet the weekends since the lockdown so if the pubs never ever opened again it would be a good thing I suspect.
@Frances Faller: I’d say you’re great craic
@thomas patrick: probably good craic without 10 pints and a line of coke. But you’re just looking forward to the “socialising”, I guess?
@Brynþór Patrekursson: clown
@Brynþór Patrekursson: the dealers can deliver
@Frances Faller: spot on Frances
So they are not set in stone. This is the way to keep people onboard.
Pubs in rural Ireland should be allowed open before big places in Temple bar e.t.c. It was the big places in Temple bar e.t.c that helped accelerated this whole mess. I think Rural Ireland is in a better position than Dublin city, Cork city to reopen. Especially Dublin because it has over half of virus cases.
Country of pathetic alcoholics. More concern for filling their livers than saving lives. Oh sorry, it’s all about ‘the jobs’…sure it is!
@Ricky: clown
@Ricky: This has absolutely nothing to do with People wanting to fill their livers you ignoramus.
There is thousands of pubs owners out there, that have Restaurants built into their pubs. It makes zero sense to have pubs opening at a later sense, but have Restaurants opening sooner.
@Ricky: Sure if we closed down the roads forever we would save lots of lives too, we’re such a pathetic country of petrol heads
@Chris Cantwell: Yes it does make sense as mentioned countless times to people like you. Whatever about respecting social distancing have food, having people in solely to drink makes social distancing nearnimpossible to police as people become more unpredictable with drink on board.
It makes perfect sense to see first how restaurant cope and if infection levels spike before opening up the pubs.
@Ricky: Hopefully when the dust settles I’m definitely going partying with you.
@Brian: ..& security.
How do the bouncers stay 2m apart should they be required to remove a drunk or otherwise?
If pubs can serve food & limit alcohol to the dining table it’s worth testing the water. I guess.
@Brian: I think the types of places where people are getting ‘smashed out of their tree’, as you term it, is not in question. Be a long time before that. What about the small places where people like going for a few pints while the spuds boiling.
@Ricky: W*nker
@Fergus O’Connor: Ha ha….looks like I’ve triggered a certain demographic of the population…cry into your pint…oh wait.
@Ricky: Climb down from your moral high horse. We’re all in the same boat here.
@Ricky: what a race of gullible clowns we are..
@Ricky:
Not everyone behaves like your family and friends.
The majority are only interested in having a few social beers in good company.
@Ricky:
U seemed to forget that the publicans closed their pubs voluntry 2 day before St Patricks day and even though they had insurance policies to cover their incomes but due to them closing themselves the insurance companies was not honoring them. most of the publicans had never being unemployed before in their life before the pandemic
Any news on the Barbers
@Sean Dempsey: It’s really odd that Denmark and Spain opened barbers and hairdressers straight away and we are waiting 3 months.
@Mairead Jenkins: Australia never shut them down
@Sean Dempsey: July 20th and I’m already starting to look like the love child of yer man from ZZ Top and a fecking Taliban. It’s hair clippers and a homemade n. 1 for me.
How are publicans comparing themselves to restaurants? I’m mad for a pint myself but the only way it would work is if security on the door to allow certain numbers in at one time, and I can’t see it being too viable for publicans. It’s like chalk and cheese
@Stiofán De Priondárgas: it’s nice to sit and people watch, but spending 20 quid for a weekends pints had worked out a lot better than the €6 each in the pub.
@Stiofán De Priondárgas: going by your method then any large restaurant or fast food outlet would also need security to only allow certain numbers in eg McDonalds , Burger King, Anns, thunder road and thats just 4 off top of my head
I just love that comment when something bad happens to a person who was out drinking they say “they were out “socialising”. Drinking until you can’t stand up.
@Paul Atreides: Not everybody drinks like that.
I certainly won’t be going anywhere near a pub so some greedy landlord can fill his pockets
@Wiggy Wigsters Fitness: i wont be going anywhere near a gym for sure…
And pubs were giving out over closing for good Friday.
I have no interest in queuing for an age to get into a pub, with no atmosphere when you do eventually get in because of vastly reduced numbers. I’d rather wait until we can go for a pint with some sense of normality, whenever that might be.
I wonder if they will increase the price of a pint. Or if they will do the right thing and drop the price.
Phibsborough pubs are a total blatant rip off.
@School4work:
How much a pint of Guinness
Smithwicks
Lager
My town,
€4.20/€4.30 Guinness and Smithwicks
Lager – €4.40/€4.50
@Declan Sweeney:
Heineken averagesa @ €5.50.
Don’t know about Guinness or Smithwicks.
I would say pro rata.
I wonder will the Dáil Bar remain closed ?
“Yesterday, two groups representing publicans called on the government to explain why they cannot open in the same phase as restaurants.”
These groups don’t seem to be familiar with drunk Irish people.
Or slowed
@Spartacus Ireland: ‘Play it by ear’ I guess, and hope it goes away faster than predicted
could be, or maybe not. Real news here.
Why were we closed? http://ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2020/may/02/why-sweden-has-already-won-the-debate-on-covid-lockdown-policy/
have your say