The wider reopening of pubs from coronavirus restrictions later in the month is at risk over concerns about social distancing outside bars.  ​

​Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government was unhappy about incidents at some locations over the weekend and warned plans for the next phase of reopening remained "under review".

​The VFI, along with LVA and the Ibec representative group Drinks Ireland, is calling for a temporary reduction in the hospitality VAT rate; and extending it to apply to alcohol sales in the on-trade (pubs and bars), until 31 December 2020.

The three representative organisations urgently convened as a group last week to consider the magnitude of the impact that the current pandemic is having on Ireland’s drinks and hospitality industry, and to look at the measures required to support these businesses – who will struggle in the short term until they can resume operating at full capacity in 2021 – including VAT on on-trade alcohol.

Fáilte Ireland will call today for the country to reopen to overseas tourists “as soon and as fast as public health considerations can allow” to help the tourism sector recover from Covid-19.

Paul Kelly, chief executive of the tourism agency, will tell the Dáil Covid-19 committee that the pandemic’s impact on tourism has been “catastrophic” and “dwarfs all previous crises”.

Download the updated IFSA & Chef Network Catering Business COVID-19 Operating Guidelines & Procedures.

Guidelines now updated to include HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre recommendations on minimum distancing of 1m between seating within Controlled Environments.