Government rescue scheme not enough to save some pubs
Sinn Fein's Martin Kenny considers those pubs not set up for serving food to be at a “disadvantage”, and that these are among the most vulnerable the longer restrictions on opening and gatherings in a post-lockdown environment continue.
A local TD believes the Government rescue scheme might not be enough to save some pubs.
Sinn Féin TD for Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon and South Donegal, Martin Kenny, said he was concerned that the government’s plan to offer a €16million to pubs and other licenced premises to help them reopen will not be enough for some.
“I fear that it may be too late for some licenced premises already. The subsidies and grants cannot compensate for the economic and social losses incurred by the Covid-19 restrictions,” said Deputy Kenny. “If this pandemic continues as it is now, and we find that we must live with it for the foreseeable future, then government and vintners have to sit down and work out a more intelligent and rational way of allowing pubs and bars to open while protecting customers and staff.”
He considers those pubs not set up for serving food to be at a “disadvantage”, and that these are among the most vulnerable the longer restrictions on opening and gatherings in a post-lockdown environment continue.
“Many hoped that they would be open by now and are in the dilemma of not knowing if it is worth it to invest in setting up kitchens at this stage or to remain closed and sit it out hoping that restrictions will be eased,” says Deputy Kenny, who struggles that had, for one, the rule regarding a substantial meal not been imposed, the vast majority of pubs across the country would now still be trading.
“It is hard to avoid the notion that if the whole €9 meal had been taken out of the equation from the start and the measures such as time limits on the premises, social distancing, restrictions on the number of customers and hand sterilisation had been properly imposed, that most of the pubs that are now shut could have continued to trade.”