RAI seeks end to Curfew

Restaurateurs are to push for an end to the 11.30pm curfew at a meeting with government officials.  It is part of an overall effort by representatives from the sector to secure an overall easing of restrictions.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland will press for further relaxation of restrictions in order to allow the industry to reopen more widely, according to CEO Adrian Cummins.  "Our main request will be the lifting of the curfew. The promise was of looking at it from September onwards, so now we're giving them lots of advance notice. We don't want another 11th hour decision," he said.

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"We will start the conversation with officials and we will be requesting a road map to the standing down of restrictions in a managed way.

We're now around 71% of adults fully vaccinated. If 85% is where they want to get to, what happens then? Will we start to get back to normal? Or is this going to be it forever?
 
Currently, all customers are required to leave bars and restaurants by 11.30pm. However, business owners say this is creating problems with large groups of people congregating outside, and leading to difficulties in people securing transport home.
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"With the 11.30pm close, everyone is piling out on the street at one time, which creates issues then with public transport, taxis, buses, and people congregating together, it gets messy," he said.
 
"We believe by going back to normal trading to half 12, the extra hour will allow for a dilution of people getting home. Having everyone straight out, off the premises at half 11 is creating unnecessary trouble.
 
"The second issue is the vaccine certificate. We were told this would be a temporary measure, with a sunshine clause in October. Could this be brought forward?
 
"The vaccine roll-out is going so well we will be asking what is the percentage of vaccinations we need to get to in order to see the certs phased out."

​REF: hospitalityenews.ie