A North Clare Hotelier fear that re-opening the hospitality sector too early could result in a number of complications for many businesses.
The Government is to consider NPHET recommendations this evening ahead of an announcement tomorrow.
It comes as the Taoiseach has been urged not to cut PUP payments after June.
The Cabinet Covid sub-committee is meeting this evening to consider what measures can be relaxed next month.
The restrictions likely to ease in May have been well flagged including the return of non-essential retail starting with click and collect; personal services like barbers, hairdressers and beauticians; and the full return of construction.
Museums, galleries and libraries are also likely to open next month, while religious services like mass could resume as early as next week.
The government is also examining a range of outdoor activities including non-contact training for adults and allowing more households to meet up outdoors.
Plans for June will also be drawn up, with the expected return of domestic tourism through the opening of hotels, b&bs and guesthouses, with inter-county travel also being examined.
The National Public Health Emergency Team met this morning to prepare advice for Government on what restrictions are safe to lift.
Dr Mary Favier, who is a member of NPHET, says it’s about striking a balance.
At Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party meeting last night there was a push to ensure pubs and restaurants could open in some form in June, with no distinction between wet pubs and gastropubs.
Sources at the meeting said the Taoiseach was generally supportive, but didn’t commit to dates, saying they have to get the balance right on hospitality.
A North Clare hotelier says the sector is pinning its hopes on a mid-June re-opening.
But Michael Vaughan of Vaughan’s Lodge in Lahinch fears that opening too early and risking further restrictions, could be the final nail in the coffin for many businesses in the sector.
In the Dáil this afternoon, the Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has looked for assurances that people in any industry that doesn’t open before July won’t have their PUP cut.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin hasn’t given an express commitment, but he says those people won’t be left high and dry.
