Restrictions on restaurants and pubs are expected to be central to discussions between the Government and public health officials next week as the plan for exiting the Level 5 lockdown is finalised.
Senior sources involved told The Irish Times that indoor hospitality is “a key battleground” in the forthcoming discussions.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he wants Ireland to exit Level 5 of Covid-19 restrictions on December 1st.
However, he said this Christmas will be a very different one from previous ones in that large groups of people could not congregate in pubs or other settings.
“That will pose challenges for us. It will not be a normal Christmas but it can still be a safe and enjoyable Christmas if we mind ourselves and if we mind others,” he told Virgin Media News.
Asked about the easing of travel restrictions, he replied: “We would like to see some relaxation of 5km and county borders.”
It is expected that by the end of next week the Government will finalise the plan for exiting the lockdown and managing the pandemic during December.
Certainty
Restaurant owners are pleading for more information about what is to come in December so they can order stock, hire staff and prepare for reopening.
Speaking to WLR News, Kamila Bystrzonowska, who owns Momo restaurant with husband Harry O'Neill, says it's hard to stay positive about the weeks ahead:
"We are less than two weeks until the start of December and we have no idea what's going to happen. WE have no idea if we are going to be open or not, we don't know the regulations - it's very hard to plan anything and very hard to stay positive to be honest."
Momo is doing a take-away service at the moment, but Kamila says people don't realise how much work is involved in opening and closing a restaurant:
"The preparation and the work involved in opening the business, then the loss of income and of produce when you close is huge, so is there a point to opening for a couple of weeks and then being closed again? I have very mixed feelings at the moment and I just don't know what way it's going to go. We cannot wait and be told on Monday that we can open on Tuesday".
additional reporting by breakingnews.ie
