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RESTAURANTS AND GASTRO pubs across the country will be forced to close their doors this afternoon under new restrictions announced by the Taoiseach this week.
On Tuesday Taoiseach Micheál Martin said restaurants and pubs serving food will have to close at 3pm. The government has indicated that it is unlikely these businesses will be allowed to re-open in early 2021.
Hotels can continue to provide food and bar services, but only to guests.
The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) has warned the government will face a “tug of war” around reopening from the beginning of January unless it comes up with “more sustainable solutions”.
“This is yet another example of horrendous treatment of the hospitality sector by the Government,” said Donall O’Keeffe, chief executive of the LVA.
“The day before Christmas they are laying off half the staff in the industry and providing them with a very uncertain future having previously forsaken the other half of the industry working in traditional pubs.
Their whole strategy basically consists of one tool, lockdown. No alterations in their approach, no considering thinking. Instead, their kneejerk reaction is to throw hospitality under the bus once more.
Hairdressers and other personal services will have to shut down at close of business today and remain closed after Christmas.
Further restrictions begin after St Stephen’s Day, with just one other household allowed into a home for a visit.. Inter-country travel will also be banned from 27 December onwards.
The government is due to review the situation on 29 December, but with the rapidly increasing transmission rates, it is expected any changes to the plan will mean tighter restrictions, not the lifting of any announced this week.
Yesterday the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommended closing non-essential retail from St Stephen’s Day. The government announcement on Tuesday stated these businesses could remain open, but would have to defer large sale events that would see crowds queuing up outside.
Despite NPHET’s recommendation to change this, the government will continue to allow retailers to open in the days after Christmas and examine the situation when Cabinet meets on 29 December.
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At the peak in April we had 881 in hospital with covid and 160 in ICU. We are in a totally different situation now. A bit of balance and perspective from the media would be nice.
@Newto2016: context is not allowed. We all know we’re not allowed have an adult conversation about this at this stage
@Newto2016: Balance? Well, if they stopped lying it would be a start.
In the pub now having a substantial meal trying to knock down as many until 3pm
@The Upside-down Triangle: you should see someone about your drink problem
@Mattress Dick: his trying to see the waitress for another one
@The Upside-down Triangle: good man, many more like ya. Enjoy yourself before the curtain twitchers have their last hurrah in January. Happy Christmas
@The Upside-down Triangle: Why? Are they never going to open again?
@Mattress Dick: You should learn to enjoy life you only have one shot virus or no virus. Just follow the guidelines.
@Eamon Morris: no
@The Upside-down Triangle: more like you should feel. Sorry for the staff that are serving you and they out of a job next week. Ignorance is bliss.
@Mattress Dick: oh really, wasn’t aware I had one. Last time I checked it was the government that imposed the time limit.
@Declan: Thanks, only been out three times since March. Trying to make the best of it.
@Mattress Dick: I managed to consume three whole pints of heineken. So who should I see about my alcohol problem oh wise one? Please educate me!!
@Eamon Morris: Prob not for a while no. Might be Feb I guess. Enjoy the knitting.
@cork rebel: I gave them a generous tip. I don’t know what you mean btw.
A lot of staff that would never normally have an early finishing time on Christmas Eve get to go home to their families tonight and watch some Christmas TV. Happy Christmas to all..:)
@Gordon Larney: While that is a way to put a positive spin on it. I’m sure they would rather be going back to work on the days after Christmas instead of the uncertainty of not knowing when that will be.
@Darren Lambe: yes, but that’s not happening is it?? Right or wrong We are going back into lockdown. So maybe trying to take the positives out of the bad is all that is left instead of whining about it…
@Gordon Larney: first Christmas Eve off in over 30 years for my other half. Every cloud and all that !
@Gordon Larney: closing early and possibly not opening again till April doesn’t pay the bills. No matter how you try to spin it unfortunately.
@Malachi Shanks: enjoy!!!:)
@Franny Ando: totally understand Franny, and if you are involved in the trade, I wish to nothing but the best of luck in the new year. Happy Christmas.:)
@Gordon Larney: and next week they dont have a job. Think of that
Open the Pubs
@Pat Mc Cormack: open the windows!
@Jonnie Marre: shut the front door.
You know I’ve followed all the guidelines since the very start, Mask, hand washing, social distancing, the whole thing. But I only did it for other people’s peace of mind, things have been fishy from the get go and I wonder how many people who follow the rules think the same..
It seems like when you air your skeptism, people you’d never expect let down the pretence and say it doesn’t make sense to them either. I wonder who the real silent majority are
@Dylan Byrne: I work with someone who lost two grandparents to it in one week. Is that what you want to give you confidence in the public health advice? A bit of personal experience?
@Hundredth Idiot: My personal experience with Covid has been mixed – between having vulnerable loved ones, knowing people who are genuinely sick, also knowing people who’ve been registered as a case despite three negative tests (he had an unrelated lung infection) – Obviously Covid is out there and it’s real as the sky is blue but it seems like people in power don’t want this crisis to go to waste, there’s more behind all this than is immedietly obvious
@Dylan Byrne: well said.
Everyone back to my place for a party
I feel extremely sorry for publicans, and those that work in the bar trade. It must be extremely difficult to have highly paid Public Sector workers tell you that your business must close, and put those that work in the trade on the dole yet again. They certainly won’t be having much of a Christmas, or a Happy New Year.
@The Firestarter: hear hear!!
@The Firestarter: Easy for Holohan to give orders for businesses to shut and workers to go on the Covid payment while he goes home for Xmas with no worries on over €5000 a week.
Less than 20 in ICU with a population of 5 million, 8 times lower than its peak last April yet the country is shut down. Madness.
Seeing families with young children having to leave a restaurant shortly after three on a Christmas Eve and being asked to take a half eaten meals home in a doggy bag (as I did earlier) because the premises was being monitored by a Garda car parked outside was a sight I never thought I’d live to see in Ireland.
Strange (and dark) days indeed.
@Ernie Gallagher: that is really sad Ernie, the smear on wet pubs /hospitailty is disgusting,
@aidanshaw: I’d agree wholeheartedly Aidan.
Lockdown is the last line of defence when not enough people follow the guidelines.
Time to get out the gazebo and have a good lock in ,especially when beer is selling faster than food…
Wrong sectors are being blamed AGAIN…
Loads od Parties on over the Next 2 weeks.
Thanks to Government..
@Pat Mc Cormack: house parties definitely I know of a few organised already
They should have finished up yesterday FFS! Super spreaders. Remember no singing and no passing the gravy boat please!
All this government is short of doing is putting us in cages
Meanwhile the HSE is dragging it’s feet and won’t start vaccinating care home residents until the 11th of January.
How about the government puts out a recommendation for the vulnerable to supplement with vitamin D and Zinc? I’m sick of this victim mentality that society imposes on the elderly. If you’re over 70 you’ve had 70 years to get your act together in regards to your diet and lifestyle. If everyone is to restrict their lifestyle for the sake of the vulnerable then surely the vulnerable have a responsibility to boost their own immune system. At least it would be an attempt to create an alternative to lockdowns. And happy Christmas to all.
@whatistheseason: We should all be doing this, not just the vulnerable. You pose a good question though!
@Noel Kelly: Thanks for the nice words. Yes everyone should be on natural supplements for this. Also there are studies out there supporting bit D and Zinc supplementation.
With respect to lock lockdowns, rural areas should not be treated like large urban areas. In large pockets of rural Ireland, many people do not know anyone who has gotten Covid. Having one policy for the whole country makes no sense medically or economically.
@Wigner’s Friend :)yet the goverment and tony are gravely concerned.
Start? Begin? Commence? Must everything be “kick in” these days? Doesn’t sound like proper journalism.
They say drink is a major issue in relation to the spread of the virus yet supermarkets continue to sell drink as loss leaders to get people into their shops.
Houses are not controlled environments restaurants and pubs are.
If a pub is in breach of regulations close it down it’s that simple.
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