Restaurant chiefs had hoped to extend opening hours on New Year’s Eve to allow customers to ring in 2021 – but are now reeling from news that they will be shut again as early as December 28.
There is renewed consternation within the hospitality industry after Taoiseach Micheal Martin and chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan confirmed further restrictions are being recommended by Nphet.
There are claims that an early closure date for pubs and restaurants during the busy Christmas period will be the final nail in the coffin for many.
The news stunned Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) representatives, as it has emerged the RAI met with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and the Department of Tourism on Wednesday. That was with a view to extending opening hours on New Year’s Eve – before the announcement just 24 hours later.
Restaurant owners deflated amid fears of new restrictions
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Covid in Ireland: pubs and restaurants rail against looming closure
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It is a challenge to maintaining social distancing and public health behaviour that are essential in the prevention of the transmission of this infection.”
Mark McGowan, President of the Restaurant Association of Ireland, said it was an enormous slap in the face to hospitality professionals across Ireland .
He told The Pat Kenny Show: We do feel like a punchbag when we re constantly in and out of lockdown like we are. It s quite clear that we need a scapegoat and that scapegoat seems to consistently come back to hospitality. When the news came out we were devastated to hear the restrictions were going to be imposed on the industry, he added. It s such a vital time, there s 250,000 employees so it s a huge shock to their systems and their future is in doubt again.