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Restaurants seek out door dining grants

Restaurants and pubs that serve food need grant-aid to help them prepare for a summer of outdoor dining,.Adrian Cummins, the CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, outdoordining has said.

He said that the State must devise a co-ordinated and streamlined system, for the sector to engage with local authorities, with minimal red-tape, so that businesses can set up outdoor dining spaces quickly and efficiently.

“Our industry has been economically flattened since last March,” Mr Cummins said.

Restairant owners have burnt through cash to try and keep their business afloat so they don’t have any liquidity at the moment.

“We are saying very clearly to government that you need to provide grant aid to cover the outdoor facilities.”

He told Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio One that it costs about €1,000 to provide a single outdoor seat, given the costs associated with protecting these outdoor dining spaces from the elements, with some large canopies that can cover 15-seats costing up to €10,000.

While Fáilte Ireland is working on a grant scheme to support an element of outdoor dining, Mr Cummins said government needs to listen to the sector.

'They want cash in their hands and they need it now.'

Fans at Euro games unlikely

The Government has said that any chance of Euro 2020 games being played in Dublin this year is reliant on conditions being “consistent with public health”. euro2020

Under normal circumstances the games would have attracted thousands of fans to Ireland.

While no decision has been taken, there is increasing speculation that the Government will not allow crowds attend the four games scheduled to be played in the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship, postponed since last summer.

With Covid-19 restrictions set to be eased very slowly and cautiously, there is growing scepticism towards the idea of large crowds gathering for the games while any kind of limitation on personal freedoms remain.

With clear signals from the three party leaders in Government that enhanced restrictions will remain well into summer, the prospect of games with crowds occurring are said to be “very slim”.

EU Court rules against Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries has suffered a setback in its legal challenge to avoid paying compensation to thousands of passengers whose trips were cancelled on sailings between Ireland and wbyeats France in the summer of 2018.

The ferry company contends that a decision by the National Transport Authority requiring it to pay compensation to many of the 20,000-plus passengers who had to change their travel plans is invalid, irrational, disproportionate and in breach of its rights under the Constitution and EU law.

However, a legal opinion issued by the Court of Justice of the EU on Thursday ruled that the EU regulations providing that compensation is payable to sea passengers affected by cancelled sailings applied to the Irish Ferries case.It also found that Irish Ferries should pay any additional costs incurred by passengers who availed of re-routing options.

Although the legal opinion is not binding on the CJEU, its recommendation is followed in the vast majority of cases.

Ryanair returns to Belfast City

Ryanair has said it will restart flights from Belfast City Airport this summer after it stopped flying from the airport 11 years ago. belfastcityairport

The airline said it will launch eight new routes for summer 2021, which will connect Belfast to Malaga, Mallorca, Faro, Alicante, Barcelona, Ibiza, Milan Bergamo and Valencia.

The chief executive of Belfast City Airport said the Ryanair announcement is excellent news for those in Northern Ireland considering a getaway this summer.

"Travel has been significantly restricted over the last 12 months and as the vaccine rollout continues at pace and the restrictions ease, we expect there will be considerable demand for these routes," Brian Ambrose said.

"We look forward to welcoming Ryanair customers through the terminal," he added.

Apartment plan for Goat Grill site

Publican Charlie Chawke has lodged a €186 million fast-track plan to construct 299 apartments on a site beside his bar in Goatstown, south Dublin. chawke

Mr Chawke’s Charjon Investments is seeking permission from An Bord Pleanála for a strategic housing development (SHD) scheme of 299 apartments, a 22-bedroom hotel, six retail outlets and childcare facilities, along with the renovation and extension of the Goat Grill pub.

The development on the 1.8 hectare (4.6 acre) site is to be made up of four apartment blocks ranging from five to eight storeys in height.

Mr Chawke said the Goat Grill “has always been the gateway to south Dublin and what we are planning will enhance the area”.