Hospitality calls for 'Clear Path'

The hospitality sector has expressed disappointment that 'Living with Covid' announcement from the Taoiseach does not include a clear path to reopening for the sector.

There are currently around 150,000 people from the hospitality sector receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) which will now be extended until June 30th.  Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) has said that the extension of existing supports do not go far enough.  It said it is unacceptable that there was no information provided on what metrics will be used to determine reopening dates for hospitality.

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Adrian Cummins CEO of the RAI said the sector is tiring and running out of money.  Businesses need to be able to see signs of the end goal, he said.

If we are all in this together why are we; the public, businesses and employees not being informed of the plan for reopening sectors?
 
"What metrics are being used, be they vaccinated people, hospital admissions, the R number? What do we all, as a society need to work towards to safely reopen again?

"Until that day what meaningful supports will be offered to businesses who simply cannot trade and are keeping banks and landlords at bay?"

The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) said there was no hope given in the revised plan to those currently on PUP.

It said that by the time the Government come to review the restrictions on April 5 many pubs will have been closed for more than a year.

According to the LVA, of the 750 pubs in Dublin, 250 of them have not traded a single day since they were ordered to close on March 15 last year.
 
Donall O'Keeffe, Chief Executive of the LVA, said that while he hadn't expected any specific dates to be provided today there needs to be an indication that things are moving in the right direction and "a light at the end of the tunnel".
 
"The hospitality sector, which currently has 150,000 staff on PUP, is not an inconvenience which the Government can sweep under the carpet.

"Our future matters to the future well-being of our society and our economy, particularly to the families and staff dependent on this sector."

The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said the lack of clarity will prolong the anxiety for over 7,000 publicans, their families and their staff.
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VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben said it was incredible Micheál Martin did not signal what would happen in regards to hospitality in the future given his previous comments that the sector would remain shut until mid-summer.

REF: Hospitalitynews.ie