​A day before the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) begins, Revenue has confirmed that certain directors will be entitled to claim the payment.  It follows a decision by the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe on Friday.  In order to be entitled to the subsidy, the employer to which the director is connected must meet the eligibility criteria for the EWSS.

July 2020 overseas travel to and from Ireland increased substantially compared to June as COVID-19 restrictions were eased. July 2020 saw 227,300 overseas arrivals and 275,400 overseas departures.

These compare with 57,100 arrivals and 73,900 departures in the previous month, increases of 298.1% and 272.7% respectively.

​Nevertheless, overseas travel in July 2020 remained dramatically lower than in July 2019, when there were 2,225,900 arrivals and 2,183,900 departures, falls of 89.8% and 87.4% respectively.

​Sodexo, one of the world’s leading integrated facilities services providers, has appointed David Fox as managing director for Sodexo Ireland effective from 1st September 2020.

​David, who comes from Dublin, has held several senior management roles within the organisation, most recently European Account Director for one of Sodexo’s global FMCG manufacturing clients. 

The Cabinet is to consider a major crackdown on house parties and pubs that are not complying with public health guidelines under new measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19.

Under the proposals expected to be approved by Ministers to-day, it will be an offence to organise or attend a gathering in a private house with more than six visitors either indoors or outdoors. This measure was introduced as a guideline last week.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said he "can't put a date" on when 'wet' pubs will be allowed reopen as a new Government support package worth €16m for pubs, bars and restaurants has been announced.

The new funding includes a restart grant and a 40 per cent top up for businesses remaining closed.  Businesses can now receive a minimum of €5,600 and a maximum of €35,000 under the grant for additional expenses and preparations for reopening when they are allowed to do so.

Media reports and details of the recent event held by the Oireachtas Golf Society raise a number of important questions and serious issues which require further clarification as set out below by the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).

As the representative body for hotels and guesthouses, we have worked closely with the Government throughout this pandemic to ensure robust operational procedures and industry guidelines are in place and effectively communicated in order to safeguard public health in line with evolving Government advice. This is of paramount importance to the IHF and our members throughout the country.

The European Federation of Food Equipment Manufacturers (EFCEM) is the only Commercial Kitchen Equipment Group represented in Brussels by Orgalim, the highly respected voice of the European Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Industries.

​Hoteliers are calling on the Government to consult all areas of society that have been negatively impacted by Covid-19, including businesses, when developing the Roadmap for Resilience and Recovery, which they intend to publish ahead of 13th September. Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, President of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), states that public health goes hand in hand with ensuring a viable economy when this pandemic has passed.