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'Wet' pubs want to re-open

The pub sector is urging the Government to allow it to fully reopen after Ireland exits its second lockdown on December 1. pcribben

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland wants the sector to be given the opportunity to open together, after rumours circulated that wet pubs would remain shut.

"The idea that non-food pubs should be forced to remain shut is a non-starter, especially when you consider the Government’s own data that pubs are responsible for such a small number of outbreaks," says Padraig Cribben, Chief Executive of the VFI.

“We have 50,000 staff waiting this week to find out if they can go back to work. They need to be working in December to provide a reasonable Christmas for their families and are surely entitled to that as a minimum, after the best part of nine months on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment,” Mr Cribben says.

The Licensed Vintners Association , which represents pubs in Dublin, says some iconic Dublin pubs have been closed for 253 days, including Grogans, McDaids and O’Donoghues. In the capital, wet pubs were never allowed to reopen.

Aid sought for Belfast Airport

The Stormont Executive has been urged to allocate further Covid-19 relief funding to Belfast International Airport. belfastapt

Last week Belfast International chief executive Graham Keddie announced his airport will not be able to continue remaining open 24/7 after major airlines reduced the number of routes they operate.

Mr Keddie added that the airport had remained open around the clock during lockdown at a cost of around £65,000 (€73,000) per day to accommodate medical emergency flights, military and PSNI traffic, the Royal Mail and all cargo flights.

The airport was not among businesses to benefit from £300m (€337m) Covid-19 relief allocations announced by Finance Minister Conor Murphy on Monday.

Mr Murphy said he intends to bring a paper to the Executive next week around airport funding.

NI hotels take Covid hit

New figures from hotel industry market data company STR have revealed that Northern Ireland's hotel occupancy level was 23% in October. titanic0519

Occupancy levels in Belfast and Derry specifically dropped below 20% last month.

Revenue per available room (RevPAR) decreased by almost 54% year-on-year in Northern Ireland last month to £26.63 from £57.55 in October of 2019.

Total revenue for 2020 is expected to decrease by nearly £123 million to £77 million from almost £200 million last year.

Crucial decisions loom for hospitality

The fate of the hospitality sector over the Christmas period will be decided following a crunch meeting between the Government and Nphet this week. michealmartin0520

The country is set to move back to Level 3 restrictions from next week, but the Taoiseach has cast doubt over large gatherings involving alcohol.

There are divisions within the Cabinet over whether pubs and restaurants should fully reopen ahead of the usually busy Christmas period and the final decisions around the easing of these restrictions are not expected to be hammered out until Thursday

Speaking to the Irish Examiner Micheál Martin said shops will reopen from December 1. He said the Government will be "flexible" in terms of guidance that they will give families, particularly on Christmas week itself, but cautioned that "individual behaviour" and "our own collective behaviour is going to be critical" on how we get through the festive season.

Hospitality businesses call for re-opening

Almost 500 Irish hospitality businesses have told An Taoiseach Micheál Martin that their industry has been hit disproportionality by Covid-19 restrictions without sufficient restaurant0720 evidence to back such moves.

In an open letter signed by 486 trade associations and businesses including bars, restaurants and hotels, the industry called on the Government to give them an opportunity to reopen in December in a planned and sustained manner.

"Businesses in the hospitality and experience sector are regulated environments and have proven to be responsible players throughout the crisis," the letter states.

"These businesses, if allowed to reopen, will play their part in maintaining strict Covid-19 measures, as we saw when they were given the opportunity to open earlier this year."

The letter is also signed by industry bodies including the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland and warns that if regulated hospitality venues remain closed, people will be driven to unregulated environments and households, where Covid-19 measures may be ignored.