“We think the idea of just allowing that is flawed, unworkable – it’s actually currently illegal by the looks of it as well.”
Pub and Restaurant owners look set to meet with Government today to discuss the proposed “vaccine exception” when Ireland’s hospitality reopens indoors.
President of the Restaurants Association, Mark McGowan, told Cork’s RedFM that business owners will be looking to get more information on how the suggested proposal will work, adding that they believe the idea is “unworkable”.
“We want to get more information on exactly what measures are going to be put in place in terms of how we’re going to operate by allowing only the vaccinated into our restaurants,” he said.
“We think the idea of just allowing that is flawed, it’s unworkable, it’s discriminatory, it’s actually currently illegal by the looks of it as well.”
McGowan added that publicans and restauranteurs need clarity on the suggestion which came as a surprise to many during Tuesday’s announcement on the easing of restrictions from July.
“We want to know how exactly this is going to work in terms of logistics because we don’t have the answers and we need them fast.”
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that the reopening of indoor dining could come sooner for people who are vaccinated as a new system to prove people have received the jab is currently being drawn up.
When asked if there was a possibility that other indoor activities that recently reopened such as cinemas, hair salons, and non-essential retail also using the system, Martin didn’t rule out the option, adding that they will “work with the sectors”.
“We will examine now the advice as we’ve received in respect of that from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET),” he said.
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