Publicans have proposed a plan to convince health officials here to allow bars to reopen six weeks earlier than planned. Under the Government's road map pubs are not scheduled to reopen until August, but the two Vintners groups here are hoping new arrangements could see pubs opening from the end of June, along with cafes and restaurants.

These proposals include; confining the number of people sitting at a table to six, no more than four people per every 10square metres and table service will be a requirement.

Bars will become dispense bars only with no sitting, standing, ordering, payment or drinking at the counter allowed.

All customers must remain seated and staff will be fully trained in the new procedures, including hand washing every 30 minutes.

There will also be no live music or DJs allowed, to stop crowds gathering.

And Gardaí / HSE will have the power to close any business who is flouting the public health guidelines.

So could they work; our reporter Barry Whyte has been finding out....