Home

Consumers now feel safer going to restaurants, hotels and attending in-person events, according to a new survey from Deloitte.

The company's  monthly 'Consumer Tracker' survey tracks Irish consumers' attitudes towards personal wellbeing, financial concerns, travel and hospitality, transport and retail.

The most recent data was gathered between 24 and 30 June.

It shows that consumers' financial concerns remain stable, with no change in the number of those concerned about making upcoming payments.

There was a 2% decrease in those concerned about losing their job.

The data shows that consumers continue to feel safer across the board, with notable increases in those feeling safe engaging in person-to-person services (up 3%); attending in-person events (up 5%); going to a restaurant (up 8%); and staying in a hotel (up 8%).

 

Publicans will be obliged to check indoor dining passes at the door of their premises, rather than at the bar counters.

Representatives of the pub trade made the case to check the certificates at the bar rather than the door during a series of meetings with Government officials.

However, it has been decided that pubs, restaurants and cafes will have to check the passes at their doors to see if customers have been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 in the last six months.

 Pub and restaurnt operators  are expecting an app to be introduced to allow them to check the validity of EU Digital Covid Certificates which can be used for indoor dining.Hospitality groups have yet to receive clarity about how the app will work but it is thought it will be based on a model used in Luxembourg.

It is also expected that customers will have to show personal ID along with their Covid-19 certificate to prove it is their own document.

The Government has said it will provide over €23 million in funding to Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock, Kerry and Donegal airports.

As part of an €80m package of supports that was announced for Irish aviation last November, the Government gave a commitment to securing EU approval for a €26 million scheme to help compensate airports for the damage caused by Covid.

Of this amount, €20 million is being provided to State airports – Dublin, Cork and Shannon.

The remaining €6 million is being provided, in two phases, to the airports of Knock, Kerry and Donegal.

There is growing concern at the rapid rise in infections which has seen daily case numbers rise to levels not seen since February. However it is expected this should not affect the advice that it is safe for vaccinated people to go indoors for drinking and dining.

Data circulated to senior officials and Ministers has demonstrated the extent to which the surge in cases has been driven by younger people, with infections “rising very rapidly in young adults”, according to a summary of the research.