Restrictions for pubs
Representatives of pubs are meeting with government officials this week to discuss reopening bars sooner than the proposed date.
They're not due to reopen until August 10th, but this may be brought forward to the end of June.
The government's roadmap for reopening the country says licenced premises can go back to work in phase five.
The Licensed Vintners’ Association (LVA) and also the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) have accepted an invitation to discuss the roadmap for easing restrictions.
Proposals
They have put together a series of measures aimed at protecting public health after they open their doors.
- Sitting, standing, ordering, paying or drinking at the bar itself will be banned.
- Pubs will only serve customers seated at tables.
- No more than four people per every 10 square metres in the premises.
- A maximum of 6 people would be permitted at any one table.
- Customers will be required to use hand sanitiser upon entry.
- All customers must remain seated.
- Staff will be fully trained in the new procedures.
- Staff will also be asked to maintain a safe distance from customers when taking orders and to wash their hands thoroughly every 30 minutes.
- Pubs will make full use of outdoor spaces to support social distancing.
- New procedures for the safe use of toilet facilities, potentially including limits on the number of people using them at a time.
- No live music or DJs.
- The Gardaí and the HSE given the power to close any business flouting public health guidelines.
The Licensed Vintners Association also says it would be up to each individual pub whether it would make financial sense to reopen with a limited capacity.
LVA Chief Executive Donall O’Keefe also said publicans “fully respect the need to continue to protect the public health.”
“We have repeatedly proven this commitment."
"Not least in the fact that our sector was the first to close across the country,”
“We also believe that if other venues who serve food and alcohol are allowed to reopen in Phase Three, then pubs should be granted the same opportunity to trade."
