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The executive director of the employers group Ibec has told the government that there is serious and urgent concern in the business community around the current phase of restrictions related to Covid.
Danny McCoy also called on the government to allow the reopening of the retail, hospitality and travel sectors as a priority before Christmas, with a sequential easing of restrictions beginning in the last week of November.
He said Ibec is seeking immediate prior and significant engagement with the most affected companies when the government makes policy decisions and communicates them.
McCoy described Ibec’s position in a letter sent to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and various senior ministers and officials.
He said that current measures impact a large swath of companies and stated that the general suppression of these sectors continues to lack refinement, despite the learnings and evidence accumulated since last March.
“This approach lacks empathy and is at this point in the crisis creating much greater economic and social damage than necessary,” he said.
McCoy said that opening businesses in a controlled manner would be a much safer option than keeping everything closed and seeing restrictions ignored by the public.
He also wrote that while the six weeks of Level 5 restrictions have led to a substantial decrease in Covid cases, more enforcement is needed to further reduce infection rates.
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The head of Ibec described how the form of communication in the media of the members of the National Public Health Emergency Team continues to be a source of “uncertainty and irritation for companies and the public in drawing up the necessary plans for the next crucial Christmas period. ”
“This pattern, now seemingly embedded, in limiting government choice is one that we understand you and your colleagues were going to address,” he said.
He added that it is “intolerable” that four weeks after the Level 5 restrictions, a revision promised by the Government does not establish the relaxation of the restrictions on companies “on which state resources ultimately depend.”
“Our members are serious about their role in suppressing the virus and have demonstrated their commitment and investment to do so since we began addressing this crisis together in March,” he said.
Mr. McCoy asked the government to get involved with companies before making decisions and to create communication channels from the beginning with them.
Ibec also wants the retail, hotel and travel sectors to reopen as a priority before Christmas, with a sequential easing of restrictions starting in the last week of November, leading to a Level 3 opening in early December.
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This should give way to Level 2 by early December, McCoy said, a strategy that would ensure that overcrowding in retail areas is avoided.
Regarding international travel, McCoy said the government needs to make sure it can proceed based on the EU color coding system and testing, including the use of antigen tests in conjunction with PCR.
The Government must also “ensure that the importance of the ambition to return to office is not lost at this stage.”
“Given that current restriction levels do not anticipate a substantial return until well into 2021, it should be a priority to modify these restriction levels to support business planning for the return of a much larger percentage of office workers in early 2021.” said Mr. McCoy wrote.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, McCoy said medical director Tony Holohan has a role to play as an advisor to the government.
But he criticized members of the National Public Health Emergency Team for “flying kites” in media interviews, saying this provoked knee-jerk reactions that frustrate the public and businesses.
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Retail Excellence requires early reopening of non-essential retailers
Retail Excellence has added its voice to the calls for a plan around the reopening of closed sectors of the economy and has criticized the Government for the lack of clarity on the subject.
In a letter sent yesterday to the party’s three leaders, Retail Excellence CEO Duncan Graham called for the reopening of non-essential retail stores by December to properly manage customer demand in the run-up to Christmas.
“The retail industry has done everything that was asked of it in the run-up to the reopening,” Graham said.
“However, it is very disappointing that we are still not clear on the form and timing of that reopening,” he said.
“Retailers do not know at what level of restrictions we will be emerging, and we fear that the reopening date could be delayed, which would have huge implications for companies,” he added.
The organization also warned that leaving the reopening of non-essential businesses until December 1 would inevitably “result in crowded streets and a frenzy of activity in our shopping malls, towns and cities.”
He said that despite a four-fold increase in online shopping, non-essential retailers are reporting sales below 80% from last year.
It also calls for large retailers to be allowed to open now, as the risk in such stores, including furniture stores and garden centers, is minimal.
Retail Excellence also suggested that shopping by appointment could be seen as a first step towards a full reopening.
The organization also said that retailers should have the flexibility to open earlier and trade later, while cafes, coffee shops and restaurants should be able to reopen alongside nonessential retailers.
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