# Hospitality
This month
May 2023
# outdoor dining
No restaurant street furniture fees for another year as regulations extended
Government to remove fees charging restaurants €125 per table for street dining.
This year
2023
# Hospitality
Tourism reps say increasing reduced 9% VAT rate for sector will be 'extremely detrimental'
The special 9% rate for the hospitality sector was introduced in 2020 in a bid to lessen the impact of the pandemic.
Last year
2022
# budget 2023
VAT is scrapped on newspapers, defibrilators and HRT but will increase for hospitality
VAT is being removed from newspapers, defibrillators and hormone and nicotine replacement therapies.
# unanswered prayers
Hostel beds cost hundreds as accommodation prices spike during Garth Brooks gigs
Not going down ’til the Sun comes up might be the only affordable option when Garth comes to town.
# Closure Orders
Four food businesses issued closure orders last month
The FSAI detailed the reasons for the closures in individual reports.
# Culture
Push to recruit events staff as industry tries to keep up with post-Covid demand
Last weekend, some event attendees reported lengthy waits in queues for food or drink.
# Hospitality
Legislation that allows drinking outside pubs and restaurants extended to November
The legislation was first introduced to help the hospitality sector during Covid.
# covid supports
Reduced 9% VAT rate for hospitality sector to be extended until February 2023
The special 9% rate for the hospitality sector was introduced in 2020 in a bid to lessen the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
# night-time economy
Covid blamed for delays to plan promising Irish nightlife revival
The spread of Covid-19 last December is being blamed for the delay.
# recruitment crisis
Labour expert says Fáilte Ireland claim about 40,000 job vacancies in tourism sector 'overblown'
The tourism authority said this week that there is a recruitment crisis in the sector.
# reopening
'A monumental day': Delight as hospitality curfew to end after 678 days of full and partial closure
Martin announced the news this evening.
# Measures
Publicans will 'make every effort' to provide later opening this weekend if given go-ahead
The National Public Health Emergency Team is due to issue its latest guidance to government tomorrow.
# covid rules
Govt advised to scrap confirmatory PCR tests for those with positive antigens
Changes in Covid isolation rules to be discussed by Cabinet tomorrow.
All time
# omicron
Pubs and restaurants will have to close at 8pm under new Covid restrictions
The number of people attending sporting and live events will be capped at 50% capacity.
Pubs and restaurants will have to close at 8pm from Monday until 30 January
The number of people attending sporting and live events will be capped at 50% capacity
A maximum of 100 people can attend wedding receptions, which must end at midnight
# Hospitality
'We've had 3,400 cancellations in 3 weeks': Restaurants say Christmas trade has been 'decimated'
Businesses have called for cuts to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme to be reversed amid mass cancellations over Covid fears.
# christmas cancellations
Varadkar says hospitality sector is 'taking a hit for the team' as he pledges continued supports
Varadkar said a decision on financial supports will be made in the coming days.
# Economic Recovery
PUP and EWSS Covid supports discussed at Cabinet Sub Committee - but no change made
Bars, restaurants and nightclubs had only recently seen restrictions start to relax.
# Last Orders
Department clarifies that hotel bars must close at midnight - even for wedding guests
All activities associated with bars must cease at midnight, a spokesperson said.
# Christmas cracked
Hospitality reps: Government supports needed to save the sector as Christmas trade hit
One business owner said that they have lost more than a dozen Christmas parties as restrictions loom.
# Covid-19
Hospitality industry collectively call for 'stronger sanctions' against businesses that flout rules
Those in the hospitality sector have said they should not be used as a “scapegoat” for the rising case numbers.
The head of the restaurants association has said the hospitality sector shouldn't be used as a “scapegoat” for rising case numbers.
It follows data showing that just over a third of customers were asked for their Covid certs in restaurants in October, Christina Finn writes.
# Nightclubs
Pubs will not need to use ticketing system for seated performances, department confirms
All nightclub events must be ticketed from next week, but bars and pubs with live music are exempted if people are seated.
# Covid-19
'Total betrayal': Hospitality stakeholders unhappy tickets required for nightclub access
Newly published guidelines state anyone attending a nightclub will need to have purchased a ticket.
# Covid-19
Updated hospitality guidelines: Maskless dancing and tickets to access nightclubs
Ticketing requirement will take effect from next week and will not impact on venues opening this weekend.
# Guidelines
The return of the bar: The raft of new measures for hospitality have been revealed
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said guidance would be practical and that common sense will apply.
Guidance was published in full this evening.
Minister Catherine Martin said people will be able to queue at the bar once social distancing is observed.
The 11.30 pm closing time for hospitality is to be scrapped.
# Your Say
Poll: Would you walk out of a pub or restaurant if they didn't check your Covid cert on entry?
Covid-19 Digital Certificates will still be required for indoor hospitality from tomorrow.
# Rock Bottom
Hospitality industry 'not an attractive sector' for returning workers, Oireachtas committee hears
The Oireachtas committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media discussed the issue today.
THE MORNING LEAD
Nightclubs seeking guarantee they'll be at 100% capacity for the big reopening
The department says there are “positive” signs due to vaccination rates but a final decision still needs to be taken.
The October bank holiday weekend is set to see nightclubs reopen for the first time in 19 months.
Last week, a pilot event had a 60% capacity crowd but restrictions are set to lift in two weeks.
Promoters have said now is the time for the government to confirm that this will happen.
# Live Music
Events and hospitality reps welcome new guidelines, but question Government communication
“We were told that there would be no further restrictions lifted until September.”
# New Rules
Live music allowed in outdoor settings under updated hospitality guidelines
The update comes following a controversy involving an outdoor event held by former minister Katherine Zappone.
The update comes after advice from the Attorney General, Órla Ryan reports
The latest update comes amid controversy over an event organised by former minister Katherine Zappone
Weddings fall under a different regulation and have an upper limit of 100 guests
# restrictions
Roadmap to easing hospitality restrictions ‘to be drawn up’
Government officials and representatives from the hospitality industry had a “robust and engaging conversation”.
# Indoor dining
Indoor dining set to reopen after some late-night changes to regulations
Outdoor dining recommenced last month but many businesses didn’t have capacity to open.
# Indoor dining
Regulations to put indoor dining reopening on a legal footing to be published today
Failte Ireland’s guidelines for pubs and restaurants were published yesterday.
# open doors
Hospitality owners report online abuse and false bookings by Digital Covid Cert critics
One restaurateur said he had received a message saying: “You’ll get what you deserve.”
One restaurateur said he had received a message saying: “You’ll get what you deserve", Aoife Barry reports.
Some pubs have been reporting receiving abusive phone calls and social media abuse.
Telegram users have been encouraging each other to make bookings but leave when asked for their cert.
# Covid-19
Taoiseach says Ireland's reopening has been 'slowest in Europe, wisely so'
Micheál Martin was speaking as 1,200 cases of Covid-19 are expected to be confirmed today.
# Indoor dining
Government aims to reopen indoor hospitality on 26 July
‘There is a need for personal responsibility, we need to trust people as well,’ said Micheál Martin.
# covid pass
Government wins vote on indoor dining laws labelled as 'discriminatory' by opposition TDs
12 government members were not present for the vote.
# Indoor dining
People will have to 'buy into' compliance with new indoor dining rules, Taoiseach says
Opposition parties will also be briefed on the plans, which they have described as discriminatory.
# Indoor dining
Cabinet approves legislation for phased reopening of indoor dining
Under 18s will be permitted once accompanied by a vaccinated or recovered guardian
The legislation will go before the Oireachtas in the coming days
Under 18s will be permitted indoors once accompanied by a vaccinated or recovered guardian
Venues will still have to comply with social distancing measures
# Hospitality
'Number of options' to get indoor dining reopened under discussion
The industry met with government representatives today for talks on the reopening of hospitality.
# Indoor dining
NPHET modelling 'didn't account for AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines being made available to all age groups'
NPHET has recommended that only vaccinated people should be allowed to dine indoors or enjoy any indoor activity.
