Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD is calling for a system of using low cost-Covid tests to be introduced to allow unvaccinated people access to pubs and restaurants.
It comes as the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, yesterday said he expects the digital travel certificate to go ahead as planned on July 19th, but that indoor dining might not go ahead until August.
Industry representatives will resume talks with Government officials on Thursday afternoon with the specific purpose of securing a protocol & date for the reopening of indoor hospitality, with CEO of the Restaurants Association, Adrian Cummins tweeting that a resumption on July 19th “is within range subject to Government approval”.
However, on his way into the Dáil yesterday, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan appeared to pour cold water on this suggestion, confirming he expects travel to resume from mid-July, but that indoor service may be delayed until August.
The Minister re-iterated he believes every fully vaccinated person will have their Digital Covid Cert by July 19th, despite a government spokesperson saying it can’t be guaranteed for all 1.8m vaccinated people by that date.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe has taken issue with the ‘off-the-cuff remark’ made by the Minister, saying it doesn’t help the hospitality sector.
The Meelick Deputy also says he doesn’t want to see a system whereby the vaccinated and unvaccinated sections of society are pitted against each other.
TD Cathal Crowe believes that a system similar to the EU Digital Covid Certificate can be used to safely allow the resumption of indoor dining.
Deputy Crowe says that the use of antigen testing for those who aren’t yet vaccinated would allow the industry to reopen without the segregating our society.
Meanwhile, an Ennis-based retail representative body are before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment today to call for further supports for the sector.
Delegates from Retail Excellence Ireland are calling for a 50% rent amnesty for the first four months of this year for retailers who have been ‘decimated’ by the pandemic.
Deputy Chair at Retail Excellence Ireland and Managing Director of Willow Boutique in Ennis, Jean McCabe, says they have been banging the table with government over rental crisis issues.
