Restaurants, cafes and pubs that serve food can re-open their doors today as Covid-19 restrictions continue to be eased.
While indoor dining will be allowed,
However with extra measures and only pubs with a kitchen on-site can welcome back customers.
Also, the RAI is advising people to pre-book a table for a meal.
The Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland , Adrian Cummins says the setting is safe:
"We're extremely pleases the Government's given us the green light to open today.
That includes as Adrian says, "restaurants and gastro bars right across the country."
"We want to provide a safe, secure, regulated environment for people to dine out in and socialise in for December."
"This is about protecting our customers, our staff and doing the right thing for the country."
⚠️Update
🔴Best of of luck to all the members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland 🇮🇪 @RAI_ie preparing to reopen tomorrow - we got there
Thank you 🙏 for staying the course with us throughout this journey
Safe Restaurants
Protect our customers & staff#safechristmas— Adrian Cummins 🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@adriancummins) December 3, 2020
Restaurants Association Wants Eateries Open For New Years
The group wants restaurants to remain open into the New Year.
However Gardaí and the Food Safety Authority will be undergoing inspections though.
Adrian Cummins is encouraging customers to stick to the guidelines:
"Well we're advising that people pre-book in advance."
"Some businesses will have walk-ins but pre-book and organise yourselves."
"Make sure you have no more than 6 at a table, you have face masks to come into the restaurants.
"Make sure you hand sanitise, do everything that you're supposed to do within the guidelines"
We’re delighted to say that we’ll be opening tomorrow. We’re so excited to be able to welcome everyone back for the Christmas season. Thinking of all the pubs that are unable to open and we ask that you think of your local and consider take aways where you can too.
— HaPenny Bridge Inn (@HapennyBridgeIn) December 3, 2020
Bittersweet Day For Pub Owners
Publicans say it's a 'bittersweet' day as gastropubs with a kitchen can reopen from today.
The Government has not allowed so-called 'wet pubs' to open over Christmas.
However there will be additional business supports available to make up for the loss of customers.
Chief Executive of the Vintners Federation is Padraig Cribben, he says those who aren't allowed to reopen feel they can't be trusted:
"I suppose it is a bittersweet day."
Padraig continued, "because for every one that's opened, there's one that's been told by Govenment leaders that they, their 25,000 staff and the communities they serve aren't trusted to take personal responsibility to open in a safe manner."
Huge worry in pub trade about CRSS and threat of losing payments from tomorrow for publicans choosing to remain closed from tomorrow. Thanks to @voteTimLombard for raising issue at Govt. level
— VFI (@VFIpubs) December 3, 2020
Pubs That Are Still Closed Need Compensation
VFI Chief Executive, Padraig Cribben says most of those that are opening today have already passed rigorous checks by the Gardaí:
"The vast of these have been open already."
"They've been subjected to in excess of 30,000 visits by Gardaí, "
"There have been a very small number found to be in breach of those guidelines."
"So I have every confidence those pubs [that are open] will shine a torch on what the trade can do"
