said his organisation is seeking an end to the 11.30pm Covid-19 closing time rule from September. Normal trading hours would see restaurants able to open from Thursday to Saturday, until 12.30am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.
He said the RAI was seeking a roadmap for the relaxation of all guidelines and restrictions as the vaccination rollout approaches 80 to 85 per cent of adults: “We don’t want to have another 11th-hour cliff-edge at the end of August.” The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland said publicans want to see a roadmap for the full easing of restrictions and a return to “normality” before the end of the month. Chief executivesaid the biggest issue his members currently have is the ban on the use of bar counters for customers.
Mr Cribben said he is not looking for a “free for all”, but rather for customers to be seated at bars. Government sources played down the prospect of any changes to rules for the hospitality industry before the end of August.added Ireland to its “level four” travel list due to rising Covid numbers, with the state department warning against travel to the country.