Dodds announces new £10m support scheme for wet pubs
Economy Minister Diane Dodds today announced a new Covid support scheme to help wet pubs forced to close by regulations.
The Wet Pubs Business Support Scheme (WPBSS) will provide £10.6m to drink-only public houses which were forced to close between July 4 and September 23.
The Minister said: “Public houses which serve drink only have suffered significantly due to the impact of the restrictions on trading imposed through the Health Regulations. Most hospitality businesses were able to re-open on 4th July after the first restrictions were eased, however, pubs that didn’t serve a main meal were required to remain closed until 23rd September – some 12 weeks longer. This is why I felt it was very important to provide this support scheme for wet pubs.”
Ten of the deaths occurred in the past 24 hours, while two were previously unreported.
It brings the death toll in the region from the virus to 1,154.
A further 656 cases of the virus have also been diagnosed after 10,620 tests were carried out on 3,439 people on Wednesday.
It comes as the Executive is set to discuss proposals from Health Minister Robin Swann for a six-week lockdown after Christmas.
Among the proposals is extending the school holidays into the New Year.
Widespread closures across retail, hospitality and leisure have also been urged.
Mr Swann also wants the Executive to take firm steps to clamp down on New Year s Eve house parties.
The penny is finally beginning to drop with the DUP that there is nothing good to come from Brexit for our economy, a Sinn Fein MLA has said.
John O Dowd criticised the party after Economy Minister Diane Dodds warned that agreement on the operation of post-Brexit Irish Sea trade arrangements had only pushed some of the main problems down the road.
Diane Dodds said there remained a need to find long-term solutions to issues around export health certification and the potential of certain chilled meats being prohibited from entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
Last week the UK and EU agreed how the Northern Ireland protocol would operate once the Brexit transition period ends on December 31.
Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Further 12 deaths and 656 new cases as six week lockdown proposed belfasttelegraph.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from belfasttelegraph.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Agreement on the operation of post-Brexit Irish Sea trade arrangements has only pushed some of the main problems down the road, the Economy Minister has warned.
Diane Dodds said there remained a need to find long-term solutions to issues around export health certification and the potential of certain chilled meats being prohibited from entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
Last week the UK and EU agreed how the Northern Ireland protocol would operate once the Brexit transition period ends on December 31.
The protocol will see Northern Ireland remain in the EU Single Market for goods, necessitating additional regulatory checks and certifications on animal-based products entering the region from Great Britain.