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RETAILERS AND PUBLIC are asking for clarity on whether and when they can reopen before the holiday season.
Dee Ryan, CEO of Limerick Chamber, said the companies are “very anxious” to reopen their doors as soon as possible.
“We will have to open the doors before Christmas. We’re just going to have to do this, ”he said.
Many retailers plan to reopen in early December, once the current Tier 5 restrictions are removed.
“They have their stock; your team members are generally anticipating and preparing to return to work. But it’s a question of how long the window will be to trade in the run-up to Christmas, “Ryan said. TheJournal.ie.
A slight increase in Covid-19 cases in recent days has caused some concern among health officials, with Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan warning that people who ignore the guidelines are “putting progress at risk. ”.
Ryan said the increase in the number of cases is “concerning” and has increased the anxiety felt by many retailers.
“If things continue to move in the direction that we are going right now, you have to put a question mark on how open we are going to be.”
Ryan said the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic has been very stressful for retailers.
“They want to be productive, they want to contribute. They are used to dealing with people on a daily basis, they love that interaction, so it is very difficult for everyone.
People feel quite depressed, they are eager to start operating.
Ryan said that many companies have grown or created an online presence in recent months in an attempt to continue operating. He encouraged people to shop locally when buying Christmas gifts.
“This year, in particular, it is more important than ever to seek to spend money with a local business owner and keep spending within the local economy.”
Retail Ireland, the Ibec group representing the retail sector, has called on the government to remove restrictions on retail by December so that retailers can trade safely for the next few weeks.
Director Arnold Dillon said: “A short three-week shopping window in December will create significant additional challenges for retailers working to manage in-store numbers and reduce the need for queues.
“Public health is the priority and retailers are taking extra steps to ensure a safe Christmas for customers. Many stores are thinking of extending their opening hours so that the store can be distributed more evenly throughout the day. “
Dillon said last week that the run-up to Christmas is “a hit or miss for many retailers” who are “relying on the period to offset the big financial hit they received earlier in the year.”
‘Ridiculous’
Brian Foley of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said tavern keepers also need to know by Dec. 1 when the Level 5 restrictions will end, if they can open next month.
“We need clarity as soon as possible. Pubs need to know – they have a full reopening plan they need to put in place, they need to contact vendors for stock, take back staff, there are a host of issues that need to be addressed. open, so leaving it until the day before is just ridiculous.
“We have seen that throughout the year that does not work. So, you know, the basic level of respect will dictate that the government inform pubs and their staff as soon as possible, well before the end of the closure. “
Foley said TheJournal.ie that pubs must be able to trade indoors “in a safe and socially distant way” for the reopening to be viable.
Before the current Level 5 restrictions, the country was at Level 3, whereby pubs and restaurants could remain open for take-out and delivery, and outdoor dining or services for up to 15 people.
Pubs in Dublin, the ones that don’t serve food, remained closed. On December 1, Dublin pubs that do not serve food will be closed for 260 consecutive days.
The country is expected to return to Level 3 next month. However, outdoor service limited to up to 15 people is “useless” for many pubs, Foley said.
“It is not something that works for our members, so we want indoor trade in a safe and socially distant way.”
The VFI, which has 4,000 members outside of Dublin, wants all pubs, including those that don’t serve food, to reopen next month. The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), which represents Dublin’s pubs, is also calling for the safe reopening of all pubs.
Pints to go
Earlier today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that he was “extremely upset and concerned” by the videos of large crowds gathering in Dublin and Cork over the weekend.
Martin told RedFM in Cork that the government will consider changing the take-out law. He said he will speak to the Minister of Justice on the matter and will also seek the advice of An Garda Síochána.
Images surfaced over the weekend of large numbers of people on South William Street in Dublin City, and also in Cork City, some of whom were drinking pints to go.
Licensed pubs and venues are legally allowed to sell alcohol to take away or to consume off-site, but alcohol cannot be consumed within 100 meters.
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Foley said some people who drink outdoors get alcohol without licenses, rather than bars. He said that any pub that breaks the guidelines must be “dealt with” but added that “the vast majority of publicans are following the guidelines.”
Drinks Ireland, which represents beverage suppliers and manufacturers across the country, also said pubs should have a chance to reopen safely in early December.
Patricia Callan, Director of Drinks Ireland, said today that pubs should be able to reopen once they follow the guidelines.
“The December business period will be a final lifeline for many pubs, which are ready and able to welcome customers.”
Callan noted that the hospitality and experience sector in general employs 330,000 people and will likely play a crucial role in the post-pandemic economic recovery.
“In the longer term, the sector 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 represented one in seven jobs created,” he added. .
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