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Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said there is no guarantee the pubs will reopen this year as industry groups harshly criticized the government’s new € 16 million support package, describing it as a “slap in the face” .
The cabinet decided on Friday that “wet” pubs, the ones that do not serve meals, will not be allowed to open next week, before introducing a package of increased cash grants along with a waiver of court fees for pub license renewal. .
The government has also agreed to introduce regulations that would make it a civil offense rather than a criminal one to hold a gathering of more than six people in a private home, either indoors or outdoors.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the cabinet considered that a “criminal provision” or criminal sanction could be considered extreme.
“We have to see how far we got here, especially when we were talking about someone’s house and I think it felt like maybe this would be an extreme measure, particularly in regards to getting into someone’s house.”
However, sources have admitted that effectively there will be no regulation of house parties or penalties for those who have more than six people in their home.
Ministers ‘scared’
The ministers are understood to have been “scared” by the public reaction to the news that they were considering making such meetings a crime and decided not to go ahead with the plans.
Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Mr. Varadkar said the government intended to work with the state’s public health team to draft protocols that could allow the pubs to reopen, but could not give specific dates for this. .
“Ireland is the only country in Europe where the wet bars are completely closed. In most countries they are open with some restrictions and we are examining if that can be done, ”he said.
The Licensed Vintners Association described the government’s € 16 million package as a “slap in the face” and said it was “crumbs” compared to what the industry needed.
“We had been asking for a plan to support the tavern sector since mid-July and this is all the government managed to put together. It’s extremely disappointing, ”said CEO Donall O’Keeffe.
The Executive Director of the Irish Vintners Federation, Padraig Cribben, said the support package for tavern keepers that have been closed for nearly six months was “woefully inadequate”.
The package builds on existing measures launched by the government as part of its July stimulus plan. The so-called restart grant has been completed with an additional 40%, and companies are now eligible for grants of between 5,600 and 35,000 euros.
‘Extended’ closures
In addition to the cash grants, the government announced an exemption from court fees and associated stamp and excise taxes related to the renewal of bar and liquor licenses this year. The various covered court fees range from € 150 to € 655.
Mr Varadkar said the package “does not necessarily have to be the end of things,” adding that “if the shutdown proves to be lengthy, it is something we can review again at budget time.”
The Cabinet also passed new laws, which must be approved by the Oireachtas, which would give gardaí the power to close pubs or restaurants that do not comply with public health guidelines. Closings of between one and 30 days can be requested, depending on the level of default.
There will be a sunset clause in the proposed bill that would see the measures cease in November.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan met on Friday night to discuss who the government plans to nominate to the European Commission in light of Phil Hogan’s resignation.
The Minister of Public Expenditure of Fianna Fáil, Michael McGrath, said that “no party owns the position.”
“It is an appointment by the Irish government. I think the most important thing is that we get the best candidate, that we get someone who can competently represent Ireland in the European Commission and that’s really the only criteria, “he said. “There is no battle between the parties regarding this issue.”
Fine Gael sources have speculated that current Foreign Minister Simon Coveney could be nominated. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also called for a female nomination and political sources have speculated that Fine Gael MEP Máiréad McGuinness could get the go-ahead.
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