A pub owner has slammed the Government for not reopening the bars today fuming: “It’s so wrong. You’re out of order big time.”
Maynooth bar owner Declan Brady has slammed the Government and said he has numerous staff whose mortgages and families were reliant on the jobs.
The owner of Brady’s Clockhouse told Virgin Media News: “This has nothing to do with pubs or restaurants.
“We understand public safety has to be taken very importantly but nine weeks ago there was clear warnings these were going to be a problem - and you, [the Government] did nothing.
“And you just took us on and by God that’s wrong, it’s so wrong.
“Cheap it is and shame on you for letting us down and letting our workforce down and our customers.
“You’re out of order big time.
“I’m really, really angry.”
Pubs had been due to reopen today but after a surge of coronavirus cases last week hard-pressed businesses are now in turmoil.
Health experts delayed the phase four August 10 plans and strict restrictions were re-introduced in Kildare, Laois and Offaly, but the move has left publicans angry and anxious.
The National Public Health Emergency Team advice to postpone the reopening roadmap was already delayed in July due to an increase in the Covid-19 reproductive rate.
Brian Purcell , board member of the Kildare Chamber of Commerce, told RTE Radio One: “We’re absolutely furious here with the shower that’s in charge at the moment.
“I’m saying now to Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Stephen Donnelly in health, who apparently is meeting the HSE in the coming days... the coming days he’s meeting them?
“Get their plans and their strategy in place now and come down to Kildare [on Monday], we’re available, we’ll disinfect you.
“Come to Kildare and face us.
“We saw the likes of Winston Churchill who was able to go out during the Blitz and meet the people and look them in the eye and have a plan and have a strategy.
“We want these people to come up to us now, they have Garda drivers , they have Garda cars, they can come up through the road blocks, you can’t shake a stick around here without seeing a guard at the moment.
“This is like a business –it’s obvious where the problems are,.
“We knew there were problems in the meat factories for months, sort it out.
“They’ve done it in Germany, we’ve had house parties everywhere.”
