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Midlands Publican Says Delay In Re-Opening Is A Kick In The Teeth

Thursday, 16 July 2020 18:56

By Ellen Butler

He's sick of being continually left in the dark.

A midlands publican says the delay in re-opening is like a kick in the teeth.

PJ Kavanagh from Kavanagh's in Portlaoise says health and government officials need to stop contradicting themselves and stop leaving the industry in limbo.

He says they went to great lengths to prepare for the re-opening on Monday - with return-to-work covid-19 courses, getting in €6,000 work of stock, and arranging bills and payroll.

PJ says they're more than happy to comply with guidelines, but is annoyed that publicans are continually being kept in the dark:

The Taoiseach has said something far more serious was coming down the line if they didn't make the decision to keep pubs shut.

It comes after the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar warned there's no guarantee they will be able to open on the revised August 10th date either.

Pubs had been expected to open on Monday before the government decided to delay moving to phase four of the easing of restrictions.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said they made the call in consideration of the best public health advice:

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