Irelands pubs are warning that “every day counts” and they must reopen for indoor service at the end of June.
The Government is on Friday expected to announce its plans for easing COVID restrictions through June and July.
The announcement will include plans for indoor eating and drinking as well as the return of live entertainment and international travel.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, the CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland Padraig Cribben said just half of the country’s pubs have the facilities to open for outdoor service.
Pubs can reopen for outdoor service on June 7th; however, Mr Cribben said the ones that open will do so on a “considerably reduced basis” and will be doing so even though it is not economically viable.
He said around one million more people will be vaccinated in the three weeks between June 7th and July 1st.
“The difference in all of this is the vaccination,” he said. “The Government has said that, by the end of June, they expect to have about 82% of the population having a first vaccination and that three weeks is important in that context.
“It is also important in the context of the viability of businesses because every day actually counts from the point of view of viability – for small businesses, for family businesses and for the people employed by them.”
Finally starting to feel like a pub again🤩 pic.twitter.com/jUWK6Ltyxp
— Grogans Castle Lounge (@GrogansPub) May 20, 2021
He said a three-week wait between the reopening of indoor and outdoor service was the standard in the North, Britain and parts of Europe.
“If outdoor is opening on June 7th, which is the plan, then the natural opening date is on or before July 1st,” he said.
“It is also important to say that, on that date, all of the schools will be closed, people will be beginning their staycations and it is a pretty natural time in that context to make sure that indoor drinking and dining is open.”
Main image shows Jan Guirean from Maynooth enjoying a trad session at Blondes bar, Miltown Malbay, County Clare, 04-07-2009. Image: Photocall Ireland
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