{"id":24513,"date":"2021-12-17T14:17:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T19:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24513"},"modified":"2021-12-20T11:21:41","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T16:21:41","slug":"hospitality-venues-to-face-8pm-curfew-from-monday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24513","title":{"rendered":"Hospitality Venues To Face 8pm Curfew From Monday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin has confirmed increased Covid-19 measures for the coming weeks (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hospitality chiefs have warned new Covid measures will \u201cdecimate\u201d their trade and lead to job losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cabinet has agreed hospitality venues, cinemas and theatres will be required to close at 8pm from Monday to deal with the threat from the Covid-19 Omicron variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Padraig Cribben, chief executive of the Vinters\u2019 Federation of Ireland (VFI) said pubs would be forced to close their doors for the duration of the restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cI guess the Government thinks we should feel grateful for the 8pm closing given Nphet\u2019s demand for a 5pm curfew. The reality is this decision will decimate the trade that was already on its knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChristmas was the one chance we had to recoup some of the losses amassed earlier in the year, but we\u2019re now in a situation where staff will lose their jobs and pubs will shut one week before Christmas as they see little point in opening under these conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile Government may see 8pm as a compromise the reality is that many pubs don\u2019t open until 5pm so three hours trading is unworkable for them. Even for pubs that open earlier the majority of their trade takes place at nighttime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cGiven the relentless public health message over the past number of weeks to avoid socializing the public had already cancelled bookings in record numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was no need to further restrict trading hours as our customers are safer in regulated pubs that adhere to guidelines instead of house parties and shebeens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur members are left wondering what the plan is for hospitality. These restrictions are meant to be lifted at the end of January but there is literally no guarantee this will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins said it was a \u201cdevastating blow\u201d to the hospitality industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cThe majority of hospitality businesses rely on income from the Christmas period to see them through the quieter first two months of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe loss of income over Christmas is about more than just the festive season, it is about surviving the winter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is imperative that financial supports are put in place immediately to offset the impact this will have for businesses and their employees and enable them to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a sector and as a country we need better engagement on what the plan for living with this disease will be going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe current last minute reactionary approach is not working, we stand as always, ready able and willing to engage with Government on a plan for the survival and reopening of hospitality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) said the Government measures were \u201cclosure in camouflage\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LVA chief executive Donal O\u2019Keeffe said, \u201cObviously we are very disappointed about this decision as it clearly amounts to closure in camouflage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of our members will now take the decision to shut their doors as they simply won\u2019t be able to afford operating in these conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany pubs have been expressing the view that they would rather be asked to close than have to accept an arbitrary curfew of 5pm or 8pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe also seem to be heading towards ongoing, rolling closures of hospitality for as long as the pandemic persists. If that\u2019s going to be the case then the Government should be upfront and tell it straight to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s not what they want then a plan of practical measures such as ventilation standards that will allow our industry to function while Covid-19 and its many variants are still an active part of our lives has to be developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t stay closed indefinitely, yet that increasingly seems to be the Government\u2019s approach to our sector.\u201d<\/p>\n

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