The Chief Executive of The Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) believes that despite the return of outdoor service to restaurants and pubs on June 7, over half of Ireland's pubs will still be closed.
During an interview on Newstalk, Padraig Cribben said that the VFI's demands to reopen indoor dining on July 1 is in keeping with various health policies that have been undertaken in the UK and Northern Ireland.
Mr Cribben also believes that with Ireland's vaccine programme amping up, the risks associated with indoor pints and dining will be reduced.
When asked why the VFI picked July 1 as the date they're asking the Government to resume indoor dining, Mr Cribben said: "There's a number of reasons, apart from the fact that businesses have now been closed for 15 months and approximately 50,000 people are out of work.
"If you look at what has happened elsewhere in Europe - particularly across the border and across the water in England - the opening of indoor came about three weeks after the opening of outdoor. If outdoor is opening on June 7, which is the plan, then the natural opening days is on or before July 1.
"It's also important to say that, on that date, all of the schools will be closed and people will be beginning their staycations. It's a pretty natural time in that context.
Later in the conversation, the Mr Cribben was asked what does he expect to have changed within that three-week period.
He added: "I think the big thing that will have changed in three weeks is that approximately an additional million people will be vaccinated.
"The Government have said that by the end of June, they expect to have about 82% of the population having a first vaccination and those three weeks is important in that context.
"It's also important in the context of the viability of businesses because every day counts from the point of view of viability for all businesses and for the people employed by them, and while we would appreciate and maintain that public health is paramount, we do believe that in the context of the level of vaccination in the context of what we have seen both North and the border that reopening is safe."
With beer gardens and outdoor terraces set to be busy from June 7, the sector is gearing up to open its doors for the first time since December but not all premises will be able to welcome back customers.
Mr Cribben believes that half of Ireland's pubs will still be closed despite the reopening on June 7 because they don't have adequate outdoor space.
He said: "I think there are two things, there certainly will be around about half that are still closed. But the ones that are open, they will be open on a considerably reduced basis and in many of those, it's more to be open than actually to be viable."
In terms of the rules for when outdoor service returns, the two-metre social distancing rule for pubs and restaurants is set to be halved.
The move would mean that when outdoor dining resumes on June 7, most businesses will have increased capacity in their premises.
As previously reported, the controversial €9 meal rule will be scrapped for the grand reopening of outdoor hospitality.
The "two hours rule" imposed on bars and restaurants last summer will also be gone when businesses return. This was in place for all premises which wouldn't maintain the two-metre social distancing regulation.
As expected, it will be a maximum of six persons allowed per group, while businesses will be allowed to operate table service only.
