A Dublin restaurant has responded to the whirlwind of social media attention that their announcement to not reopen indoor dining received.
64 Wine, located in Glasthule, announced on Twitter on Monday that they will not reopen the indoor dining part of their business until their staff have been fully vaccinated.
The shock announcement received a huge social media response, with many praising the business for prioritising the welfare of their staff.
However, others expressed confusion and queried whether the staff would be forced to take the vaccine in order to keep their employment.
Co-owner of 64 Wine, Gerard Maguire was on Today with Claire Byrne to clear up the confusion.
He said: ¨We made the decision there recently because of our concerns about their welfare, that with the small dedicated area inside, it would be unsafe to open the interior for the remaining staff members who have not yet been vaccinated.
¨We have twelve staff, one has been fully vaccinated, two partially vaccinated and nine haven´t been offered a vaccine yet.
¨It´s not my business or my affair to decide whether someone in my staff takes a vaccine or not, but the point is that we feel that the very least we can ensure is they´re at least offered the vaccine or have the vaccine before we reopen.¨
He also emphasised that the decision not to reopen for indoor dining will have no effect on his staff´s employment, as the business doesn't solely rely on serving food.
Maguire said: ¨There will be no change in terms of employment because we have a cafe, we serve outdoor, we serve takeaway, we have a substantial retail business.¨
In an address to the nation at lunchtime today, Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed a delay to indoor hospitality.
He did not provide a date for when eating and drinking indoors could resume, but hopes a plan will be put in place before July 19th.
The Taoiseach did say that indoor hospitality will initially be limited to those who are fully vaccinated, followed by those who have fully recovered from Covid-19.
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