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Taskforce seeks ease in restrictions

The Government is being urged to consider a move to one-metre social distancing and to allow people travel beyond 20km of their homes from June 29 to save Ireland's tourism andrews0520 industry.

“It is clear that the issues we are highlighting are urgent from the perspective of those tourism businesses which are evaluating whether and how to reopen," said TRT Chair Ruth Andrews.

A delayed reopening of schools, allowing bars and pubs to welcome customers from July 20 and removing the two-week self-isolation period for visitors from "safe" destinations are also being suggested.

The issues are highlighted in an eight-point list submitted to Government by Ireland's new Tourism Recovery Taskforce , which has been charged with preparing a Recovery Plan for an industry devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Cabinet is being asked to consider:

Harris cautious on hotel re-opening

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said “all the indicators look good” in relation to moving to the next phase of easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

When asked if hotels could potentially open sooner to give them time to use some of the holiday season before schools reopened, Mr Harris said “a body of work” would need to bedroom2

be done about any such acceleration in the reopening businesses.

Mr Harris cautioned that moving from one phase to the next phase was “not inevitable and not guaranteed” and an announcement would be made following a Cabinet meeting on Friday. He said there were no current plans to change the guidelines for two metres physical distance to one.

Pubs to re-open early

Hundreds of pubs are expected to reopen weeks earlier than anticipated at the end of the month as they have restaurant licences. pub0118

Sources have said the Government will give the green light for the move in the coming days following meetings with industry figures. Chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association Donall O’Keeffe said while his group was awaiting final clarification, hundreds of pubs are in “full-scale active planning” for reopening.

Attraction plan objections persist

Opponents of a new visitor centre proposed for the Dublin Mountains have challenged claims by its promoters that it will have no adverse impact on protected habitats and wildlif hellfireclub0620

e in the area.

A total of 20 parties have made submissions to An Bord Pleanála for a third time to raise objections to the plans by South Dublin County Council, Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership for the development of a €19m visitor centre on Montpellier Hill near the iconic Hellfire Club in Rathfarnham.

It follows the third request by An Bord Pleanála for further information from the promoters of the project on aspects of the visitor centre following an oral hearing in November 2018.

Most objectors dispute claims by the council that a three-fold increase in visitor numbers to the Hellfire Club would not result in significantly more numbers accessing other nearby protected habitats.

B and B prizes for 'Shining Stars'

B&B Ireland has launched a competition to reward volunteers who have been the Shining Stars of their communities in lockdown. Three winners will each win a three-night B&B bnb Activity Break for two people, says Helena Healy, chief executive of the island-wide body.

“Our frontline health and care workers have been true heroes in this pandemic but there are local heroes who have made enormous voluntary contributions too. Our B&Bs are firmly based in their communities, so our members know what a huge difference these volunteers have made to so many lives, particularly for those cocooned. These are the people we want to honour with this competition.”

“As we approach the time when we can travel freely around the country, we have prizes of B&B Activity Breaks. Winners can choose what suits them best such as a Farmstay or Walking, Food Lovers or Beach Breaks. We have lots of properties in great locations across the island.”.