News

Longer hours planned for nightclubs

Nightclubs look set to be allowed stay open later and Sunday pub opening hours will be extended under a plan by the Minister for Justice to reform the alcohol licensing laws.

nightclub The changes will form part of Government's efforts to boost the hospitality sector's recovery when the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted later this year.

The plan would also make it easier for for cultural venues such as theatres, galleries and exhibition centres to get licences.

The nightclub sector has argued that longer opening hours are essential for financial viability and to better serve tourists.

The Minister for Justice will now examine opening hours in this context.

"This is about revitalising these vital industries and preparing for life after Covid, when our cultural and hospitality sectors can flourish again," Minister Helen McEntee said.

The plan will also look at staggered and extended closing times for pubs and nightclubs.

9% Vat until 2025 ?

Tourism Minister Catherine Martin is to bring a suite of new measures to Cabinet to support the hospitality sector which is facing a second summer season of uncertainty.

The 'Irish Examiner' reports to-day that she will encourage her Cabinet colleagues to extend the 9% Vat rate for the sector until 2025 and continue the Stay and Spend scheme until the end of this year.

It comes as the public was warned that "we’re looking at an outdoor summer" by the chair of Nphet’s epidemiological modelling advisory group Philip Nolan.

The Cabinet is to sign off on an updated version of its Living with Covid plan tomorrow, which will focus on getting children back to school before a phased and gradual reopening of other parts of the economy.

Tourism community 'devastated', says Fitzgerald

IHF President Elaina Fitzgerald Kane says that the tourism community is 'devastated' at the prospect of remaining closed until mid-Summer. elaina

'Public health must always be the number one priority and we recognise the difficult balance the Government has to achieve', she said.. 'However, our tourism community is devastated to learn yesterday in a radio report that the hospitality sector is unlikely to reopen before mid-summer. This has resulted in acute frustration and anxiety. Prior to this pandemic, 270,000 people’s livelihoods were supported by Tourism and 70% of these were outside of Dublin. In some cases, whole communities are built around tourism.

We are calling for an urgent review of the existing supports for the tourism and hospitality sector.

Hospitality closed until Mid-Summer

No consideration will be given to opening hospitality until mid-summer, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. martin1220

Speaking on RTÉ's Raidió na Gaeltachta, Mr Martin said that the coronavirus numbers are far too high and that the Government and public health officials are particularly concerned about the emergence of new variants.

Asked about the reopening of hospitality, Mr Martin said he did not foresee that happening before the middle of the summer

"What the public health authorities are saying is that we stick with this until end of April, then we reflect on the situation and make decisions about the months ahead," he said.

Responding to the Taoiseach's comments, Restaurants Association of Ireland CEO Adrian Cummins said:

Council refuses Museum conversion

The ESB has been refused permission to convert its Georgian house museum in Dublin into three luxury apartments. esb

An Taisce, Dublin Civic Trust and the Irish Georgian Society had all objected to the plan.

In its ruling Dublin City Council planners said: "The proposal would reduce the range of cultural and tourist activities in the city core and would set an undesirable precedent for the loss of further cultural facilities in the city"

The museum, which recreates a Dublin Georgian house, was opened by the ESB at 29 Fitzwilliam Street in 1991, during Dublin's year as European Cultural Capital.

The building was one of a number restored by the ESB in 1988.