News

Pub fury at new regulations

Publicans have reacted strongly to what they describe as a "crazy" new law requiring restaurants and pubs serving food to record all individual food orders and keep the information for 28 days.

The Vintners' Federation of Ireland said the temporary rule, contained in a statutory instrument, is "bureaucracy gone mad".

Fáilte Ireland has updated its guidelines for the industry to stop the spread of Covid-19.

There should be a maximum of six people from three separate households at a table in a café or restaurant from now on.

Businesses and services must keep a record of what each person orders.The time and date of customers' arrival must be noted.

The name and contact details of one person per party must be recorded for both walk-ins and booking and all details will be kept on file for 28 days.

When it comes to drinks, all straws must be individually wrapped and embellishment or decoration of glasses like cocktail umbrellas should be minimised.

The Government is to publish a medium-term Covid plan., due to be published on September 14, will allow people to return to 'some sort of normality in the coming months' eamonryan according to Minister Eamoin Ryan..

It is expected that an easing of restrictions on international travel will be contained in this plan with Mr Ryan stating that it would contain "a planned approach allowing for connectivity".

Mr Ryan said the plan would "restore livelihoods as well as protect lives."

He said this medium-term road-map "is as important if not more important" than the upcoming Budget.

"The government has to now start preparing for the next, six, nine, 18 months, a medium term approach, where in the absence of a vaccine we have to manage it and included in that we will have to manage international travel," he said.

Responding to questioning from Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall he said: "It is as important if not more important in my mind than the Budget facing us, because how we manage this will allow a return to some normality of life as we manage with Covid and try and minimise it and try and suppress it."

Hotel owner refinances debt

The company behind Michael Holland's Fitzwilliam Hotel on Dublin's Stephen Green has refinanced its senior debt with AIB to ensure it has sufficient financial headroom during

the Covid crisis.

Accounts just filed for the company, Ampleforth, reveal that the refinancing deal was struck in April, as the country remained in lockdown.

Ampleforth said that it had reduced its cost base and intended to avail of government supports during the pandemic.

"The group has also refinanced its senior debt with AIB for a further period of five years, thereby ensuring that adequate liquidity is available to deal with any Covid-19 related issues," the accounts note.

Irish Costa jobs safe

Jobs in Costa Coffee chains in Ireland and Northern Ireland are unaffected by the recent redundancy announcements in the UK.

Costa Coffee in the UK told staff that consultati costa

ons beginning today could affect more than 10% of roles across the cafe chain as it looks to cut costs during continued uncertainty over when trade will fully recover due to Covid-19.

More than 1,650 staff are at risk of redundancy as the chain returns to business after closing 2,700 UK stores for six weeks during the pandemic.

2,400 Costa Coffee shops have now reopened but potential job losses are driven by “high levels of uncertainty as to when trade will recover to pre-Covid levels,” according to Neil Lake, managing director for Costa Coffee UK and Ireland.