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Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D., secured €8million for the Restart Grant Plus scheme for B&Bs as part of the Government’s Jobs Stimulus package.

B&Bs that do not pay local authority rates are entitled to apply for the grant which will assist owners with the costs of re-starting and operating their B&B business at the appropriate time.

Minister Catherine Martin said:

“The Restart Grant Plus was a key element of the Government’s Jobs Stimulus package and up to €8milion has been ringfenced to support B&Bs. This is another critical action the Government is taking to help support and sustain the tourism sector at this devastating time.”

Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, added:

Pubs and restaurants will not be able to trade as normal once the six-week lockdown is over in the run up to Christmas as the country will remain at least level 3 until the New Year.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has confirmed bars and restaurants will remain at Level 3 until the end of year and, therefore, will not be able to re-open fully in time for Christmas.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Donohoe said that even if a move to level 3 before Christmas, it will still create many challenges for the hospitality sector.

“In relation to level 3, that is what we are working to get to, but it is the case that we move to level 3 it will still create many challenges for those in our hospitality sector. But that is why we brought into VAT rate of 9% and it's why will maintain the EWSS up to the 31st of March,” he said.

 

 

 

Michael Cush, senior counsel for two of the Dublin-based pubs, said it is “very difficult” to see the basis for which FBD had seen fit to defend the proceedings given its obligations to customers.

Having heard the evidence of Paul Shanahan, the FBD sales executive who sold a policy to bar Lemon & Duke, and Kate Tobin, the company’s chief underwriting officer, Mr Cush put it to the court to consider making an award for aggravated damages.

 Sean’s Bar in Athlone, The Leopardstown Inn, Sinnott’s bar and Lemon & Duke in Dublin, are taking legal action against the insurer as they believe a clause in their policies entitles them to recover losses suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

John commenced his apprenticeship in bartending in 1958 at the Metropole Hotel, Cork where he worked for many years graduating to the role of Bar Manager, Duty Manager and Beverages Manager.  As part of his apprenticeship training he worked in The Royal Hibernian Hotel, Dublin under the famous George Buller and Jack Lee who were two of the founders of the Irish Branch of the United Kingdom Bartenders Guild (UKBG).

Whilst working at the Metropole he began lecturing on a part-time basis on the Day-Release Bartending Course at the Cork Regional Technical College's Catering and Tourism Department. These courses were the forerunner to the full-time bar courses now on offer by many Institutes of Technology throughout the country. After a number of years he secured a full – time position in Cork Institute of Technology as a Lecturer in the Department of Tourism & Hospitality Studies where he continued to work until his retirement a number of years ago.