Dublin's publicans have warned they "can't guarantee" they will continue to accept lockdown if promises made on the reopening of wet pubs are not kept.
Level Five restrictions are due to come to an end in December and it has been reported that restaurants and bars that serve food will be reopen but wet pubs may be asked to remain closed.
The Licensed Vintners Association, which represents the capital's pubs, has claimed Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn promised them that there would be no distinction between bars when current restrictions are eased.
The group claim the commitment was made during a conference call involving industry stakeholders on September 18.
LVA Chief Executive, Donall O’Keeffe, said: "The Government must stand by the commitment made by the Acting CMO to allow pubs that serve food and those that don’t to reopen together.
"During the call that took place on the 18 September I specifically asked Dr Glynn about this issue and he made a firm commitment that pubs that serve food and those that don’t would both be able to reopen together when reopening is permitted.
"If NPHET and the Government expect the continued buy in of the sector then they have to live up to such commitments."
Wet pubs account for a third of bars in the capital and will have been closed for 260 consecutive days by December 1.
Mr O'Keeffe said publicans have taken a "disproportionate hit" during the COVID-19 crisis and warned that they "can't guarantee" they will continue to accept restrictions if wet pubs are ordered to remain closed.
He continued: "If the Government and NPHET are to proceed with a strategy that provides nothing to work towards, then the continued acceptance of the lockdown can’t be guaranteed.
"Hope has to form part of the strategy. So far, hope for the hospitality sector in general and pubs in particular has been notably absent from the Government’s plans for December and beyond. That needs to be urgently addressed."
Dublin Live has contacted the Department of Health for comment.
