As news emerged late last night that NPHET wants pubs to close at 5pm, we have all the latest on what is due to happen next.
The proposal: Shut the pubs at 5pm
Following a meeting with NPHET on Thursday night, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan recommended that pubs and restaurants be shut from 5pm.
He made the latest recommendation in a letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, warning that hospitals are at “extremely high-risk levels” due to the arrival of the Omicron variant.
What happens next? Government meeting at 2.30pm
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was due to arrive back to Ireland from Brussels on Friday morning and a Cabinet sub-committee meeting on Covid-19 will be held.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said a full Cabinet meeting will take place later on Friday, which is expected to take place around 2.30pm.
Government will consider the 5pm closing time for pubs and will decide whether to accept or reject NPHET’s proposal. One senior source has said there will likely be a change to the curfew but not as early as 5pm.
Announcement from the Taoiseach at 6pm
Taoiseach Micheal Martin is expected to address the nation on Friday evening with an update on any new Covid restrictions decided on in the Cabinet meeting.
The timing of this announcement depends on how long the Government deliberates NPHET’s recommendations, but it is thought it will take place sometime around 6pm.
If NPHET’s proposal is taken on board by the government, the new 5pm closing time for hospitality would come in from next Monday.
Public reaction to the news
The news of the proposed 5pm closing time was met with “frustration” from the public, “anger” from those working in hospitality, and backlash from TDs, which was acknowledged in a statement from the Tanaiste Leo Varadkar on Friday.
He took to Twitter, writing: “We’re all feeling anger, frustration, dismay, depression but that cannot deflect us from making the right decisions to keep our people safe.
Speaking about the number of people hospitalised with Covid-19, he wrote: “420 in hospital today. Down 40% from peak a few weeks ago.
“We were winning the fight against Delta now Omicron is coming when we are at our most vulnerable - winter, Christmas, flu season. It’s a cruel virus.”
However, pub and restaurant owners across Ireland have been left in 'despair' at the proposed 5pm curfew, saying it would “effectively be a full lockdown” as they do 90% of their trade after that time.
The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) warned that if the proposal is accepted, it will have a devastating impact on members, their families and staff, and that the public will still gather in unregulated house parties.
“The proposed 5pm closing time is devastating news for our trade and is difficult to come to terms with,” said Padraig Cribben, VFI Chief Executive.
“After so many lockdowns, along with the desperately slow reopening of the trade during the summer and the promise of no further shut-downs, this proposal would effectively be a full lockdown.
“Allowing our members trade until 5pm is pointless. Over 90% of pub turnover is generated at night-time so closing early is not viable. In fact, any reduction in the current trading hours will crush many businesses. What is proposed is effectively full closure of the sector and would have to come with a full suite of supports.
He added: “There is also the fact that restricted trading hours will drive people from well-run pubs following the guidelines to unregulated parties and shebeens.”
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