News

Special provisions for hotels and restaurants in new Covid 19 curbs

Hotels can continue to offer 'essential services' and restaurants can sell take-away meals under new measures introduced by the Government to delay the spread of Covid covid19 19.Theatres, clubs, gyms and leisure centres, hairdressers, betting shops, marts, markets, casinos, bingo halls, libraries, and other similar outlets are to shut;

Hotels are to limit occupancy to non-social and non-tourist reasons;

All cafes and restaurants are to limit supply to take- away food or delivery;

A €3.7bn financial package was also announced in order to soften the blow for the economy, as Social Protection Regina Doherty said that her previous prediction of 400,000 job losses now looks “conservative”.

The package includes:

A wage subsidy scheme will see the State fund up to 70% of pay, with a maximum weekly tax-free payment of €410 per employee;

Rates for the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment will rise to €350 per week;

Enhanced illness payment for those required to self-isolate or those diagnosed with coronavirus, will be increased from €305 to €350.

Exemptions from normal planning rules to allow restaurants and cafes to provide takeaway and delivery services during the coronavirus pandemic have been approved by the Government.

Government 'not doing enough' for Tourism says ITIC

The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has said the Government is not doing enough to protect employers, warning that the tourism industry here is “on the brink” and could eoghanomw18 see job losses top 200,000 in the near-term if action is not taken.Latest CSO figures showed 265,000 people working directly and indirectly in Ireland’s tourism industry. However, an estimated 150,000 people have lost their jobs during this crisis.Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and tindustry bodies have been meeting Government, led by ITIC.

Ireland’s tourism industry is worth around €9bn, with 75% of its economy reliant on in-bound travel. ITIC said very little of that will be seen this year and even if Covid-19 disappeared immediately, it would be into 2021 before the start of a recovery would be seen. It said the virus presents “shattering economic implications” to the industry.

The organisations want a multi-billion euro package to support tourism businesses, with that package including a job retention scheme, interest-free loans, debt forbearance, and business continuity grants.

Hoteliers welcome wage support

The Irish Hotels Federation has welcomed the Government’s new Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, the enhanced COVID - 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, the elaina0320 inclusion of the self-employed in this scheme and the provision of enhanced protections for people facing difficulties with their mortgages.

The IHF has also welcomed Government’s recognition of the role that hotels play in essential non-social and non-tourist services. President of the Irish Hotels Federation, Elaina Fitzgerald Kane called today’s measures as essential to tackling the public health crisis and at the same time providing necessary supports to those who have lost their jobs. But she warned that further sector specific measures will be required to ensure the recovery of tourism and other parts of the economy. “Today’s announcement is very welcome but it is not nearly enough to safeguard the future of the tourism sector,” she said.

Bloom Festival cancelled

Bord Bia has announced the cancellation of Bloom 2020 scheduled to take place from Thursday 28th of May to Monday 1st of June in the Phoenix Park. bloom0320

Following consultation with the relevant authorities, Bord Bia has made this decision in light of the unprecedented threat to public health presented by COVID-19. The health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors and staff is our number one priority. An event of Bloom’s scale requires many months of preparation involving a range of multi-disciplinary teamwork. This decision will be disappointing news for many and Bord Bia would like to pay tribute to the growers, designers, contractors, exhibitors and sponsors who have worked so hard on this year’s event.

Owner supports Center Parcs

Brookfield Asset Management, the Canadian fund that owns Center Parcs, says it is prepared to prop up the holiday parks operator, if required, during the Covid-19 crisis.

Center Parcs has also announced it is extending the closure of its Irish facility in Co Longford.

Center Parcs hosted a conference call with bond investors on Tuesday, during which it outlined its liquidity position, including its ability to pay interest to noteholders while Britain and Ireland remain under effective lockdown.

Martin Dalby, the chief executive of the UK holiday park group, told investors that Longford Forest, which it had previously announced would close until March 29th, would now stay shuttered until Thursday, April 16th.

However, the news was subsequently overtaken later on Tuesday by the Government’s announcement of the extension of lockdown restrictions until Sunday, April 19th.