A Wicklow pub and restaurant owner says businesses now really need a detailed reopening roadmap so they can start planning ahead.
NPHET and senior ministers are today considering which restrictions can be eased from next week.
They're expected to take a very cautious approach, with a focus on allowing some limited outdoor activities and sports to resume.
A full Cabinet decision is expected tomorrow.
So far, Government has not set out a detailed roadmap for easing restrictions or given provisional reopening dates.
David McGuigan from The Hollywood Inn in Hollywood, Co Wicklow believes that's something that now needs to change.
He told Lunchtime Live: “[We operate] as a gastropub and restaurant. At the moment, we’re only offering takeaway - but at this stage I really need the Government to announce a detailed reopening plan for our sector.
“All I want to know is am I doing takeaways for the next two months? Am I doing outdoor dining in June, July and August? Am I indoors from September? We’ve just got to know.
“If I have a detailed roadmap I can plan for the next few months and prepare for trading - and most importantly I can also plan for staffing.”
David he's grateful for the various Government supports, but they just aren’t enough at the moment.
He said his business is seasonal, and they've already lost some of the busiest days of the year - such as Mother's Day, St Patrick's Day and the Easter weekend.
He observed: “At this stage, do I write off May and June bank holidays?
“Businesses in the hospitality sector are on a knife-edge at the moment. I think it’s only right and fair that Government announces a detailed reopening plan of when and what part of my business I can reopen.”
David said he fully understands that a reopening plan would be purely provisional, and dependent on COVID-19 rates in the country.
However, he pointed to the roadmaps being announced by other countries - including in the likes of England and Scotland.
He added that we still don't have a roadmap here despite Ireland now being three full months into the vaccination programme.
