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Publicans anticipate reopening their doors for Christmas, but health chiefs are expected to tell the government to keep them closed.
Medical director Dr. Tony Holohan said he “didn’t expect” to give government advice that would allow families and friends to gather at their local pub for a Christmas drink.
He told Dublin Live: “That is not our advice or the advice I look forward to giving and I am not going to start speculating beyond that on exactly what we are going to say.
“We are going to give what we think is the right advice and what we think are safe and effective steps we can take.”
He said NPHET has yet to finalize its advice, but “ultimately, the government will decide what measures will be in place by December and beyond.”
But a body representing pubs across the country told Dublin Live that “we hope to open.”
Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) Executive Director Padraig Cribben said: “We look forward to opening when restrictions are lifted [on December 1] and business and industry must.
“People are going to socialize during Christmas and we would be better off if that happened in a controlled environment.”
Cribben said there is now an understanding at the government level that pubs need notice to order in stock and get organized before reopening.
He added: “So we hope to know at least the last week of November about the reopening.”
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