A Clare government TD insists supports will have to be provided to the businesses who will suffer most in the fight against COVID-19.
New restrictions come into force at midnight, after the Government made the decision to move the entire country to level three of COVID restrictions.
Ireland is moving to Level 3 restrictions at midnight tonight, after the Government rejected the National Public Health Emergency Team’s advice to go to Level 5.
That means indoor dining will be banned in pubs and restaurants, that people can’t leave the county they’re living in and that everyone who can work from home, should.
Last night, the Tánaiste was highly critical of the public health doctors saying their advice to move to Level 5 was “not thought through.”
Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald says these remarks were wrong, but the Health Minister has denied the government’s relationship with NPHET has been irreparably damaged by rejecting its advice.
Stephen Donnelly says health officials did what they thought was right.
Clare’s Green Senator says any decision on imposing restrictions was not without consequences and that the Government had to perform a delicate balancing act.
Roisín Garvey believes the right decision was made in giving people the chance to play their part in bringing down the number of cases of covid-19.
Clare’s Fine Gael TD has rejected any suggestion that the move to level three is a gamble.
Deputy Joe Carey has described the decision to reject recommendations as a proportionate response but he insists the Government must now provide supports to the businesses that have borne the brunt of the pandemic.
Among the industries which will be hardest hit are publicans, who are now calling for clarity on what those supports might be.
Under level three restrictions wet pubs can only have outdoor seating, with numbers restricted to 15.
Chair of Clare VFI, Ennis Publican Darragh McAllister says that’s simply not viable and that without support, many pubs in this county will have to close their doors for good.
