Publicans have called on the government to allow people to drink at bar counters once they reopen.
Tanáiste Leo Varadkar and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin held a meeting with representatives for pubs, restaurants and the tourism sector on Wednesday.
The Irish Mirror understands that publicans asked Leo Varadkar to allow people to drink at bars once indoor dining is permitted on July 5 as it’s “quite important for rural pubs."
They said it would be done safely with the barman protected and social distancing would be respected.
There were calls for the 105-minute rule to be scrapped and a timeline for a winding down of the restrictions in place for the hospitality industry.
Two sources that attended the meeting also said that there was discussion and hope that nightclubs and late bars could reopen sometime in August or September.
Although, there was no commitment given by either Minister.
Representatives from the event sector were also at the meeting who were “eager to get going” to which one source said both Ministers’ were “full of positivity.”
While members from Tourism Ireland were “pushing the green button” to get people back visiting Ireland safely.
It’s understood that a number of independent restaurants are pressing ahead with legal action against the government’s decision not to allow restaurants open for indoor dining from Wednesday.
They have been fighting to reopen their businesses at the same time as hotels.
The businesses owners, with the support of the Restaurant Association of Ireland, are looking for a judicial review specifically around what they claim is the “discriminatory nature” of the government’s decision.
