This week saw the government announce a new series of Covid-19 restrictions on social gatherings and sport, as well as renewing garda powers to enforce public health measures.
The new rules are to remain in place until the 13th of September, but Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that the re-opening of so-called ‘wet pubs’ would be considered before then.
Nicky O'Regan owns Nicky's Pub on Mayor's Walk in Waterford City. Speaking to WLR, he said he's not optimistic that his business will be allowed to reopen in the short term.
"I cannot see it happening personally," he said when asked if he thought he'd be opening his doors by the end of August, "I think we're going to be here for a long time before we get open."
"The schools are a very big thing, they have to be open. I have a couple of grandchildren and they all have to go back to school - our business is minute when it comes to people's education, but we deserve to know where we are. We haven't earned a shilling since March, we're on the Covid money."
Nicky says there has been a lack of certainty and guidance from government when it comes to the pub sector.
"Every time they've given us a date to open, a couple of days prior to it it's been put back. It's like a kick in the teeth," he said. "They opened the restaurants with guidelines, the wet pubs have gotten no guidelines. I've had my pub painted inside, I've had it sanitized. If I was given a couple of days notice I could have it opened this week."
