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More than 400 individual companies and 12 trade associations have written to the Taoiseach this morning expressing concern about the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic that they feel is “focused on restricting economic activity to a much greater extent than in any other country in the world. Europe”.
The open letter from hoteliers, innkeepers, restaurateurs and others in the hospitality and “experience” industries argue that their businesses are being “disproportionately restricted” and face tougher restrictions than their European neighbors.
“The current Irish approach risks not only short-term damage, but lasting and irreparable damage to the Irish economy and society,” the letter says.
The letter is co-signed by the largest business representative body in the country, IBEC together with the Irish Hotels Federation, the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the Event Industry Association of Ireland, the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland.
Signatories also include Aramark, Coca-Cola, daa, Dalata Hotel Group, Diageo, Heinken Ireland, Irish Distillers, The Marker Hotel, Tifco Hotel Group, Adare Manor, and Gleneage Group, among a number of other prominent Irish companies.
The open letter urges the government to look for countries that have managed to keep their economic sector of expertise open while at the same time taking “clear and specific approaches” to control the spread of the virus. Calls for greater engagement and coordination with the industries most affected by the current restrictions and calls for more support for the sectors most affected by COVID and government restrictions.
“The hospitality industry and experience are regulated environments and have proven to be responsible actors throughout the crisis. The sector, which is vital to the Irish economy, can play a crucial role in the economic recovery that will follow this pandemic, as it did during the recovery from the last economic crisis, when it accounted for one in seven jobs created. Unfortunately, this recovery will not be the case if many of these companies are forced to permanently close their doors, ”the letter says.
In total, the “experience sector” contributes 4.5 billion euros in wages, salaries and employment taxes each year. More than 330,000 people are directly employed or supported directly by the demand of the sector.
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