Tipp pub owners frustrated with government's handling of situation

As Tipperary politicians call for a better aid package for pubs in the county that are forced to remain closed, a prominent Nenagh publican has said she and other publicans in the town are frustrated over the way the Government is dealing with the situation.

Pubs that do not serve food have now been closed for almost six months, which Noreen O' Sullivan says is not just a big financial loss to her and her husband Jim, but also a major loss to the local economy and those who depend on establishments like theirs to enhance their social lives.

 

CLOSED FOR 6 MONTHS

Noreen and Jim are the proprietors of the renowned Rocky's Bar in Pearse Street, Nenagh, which like other so-called wet pubs has been closed since March 13th.

"We are nearly closed now for a full six months and it's very frustrating," said Ms O' Sullivan, who was commenting on the decision not to allow wet pubs to reopen on the review date on Monday last.

"The drip feed of information is very hard to take. We were supposed to reopen on August 10th and I personally found it a bit of a shock to the system when that didn't happen," said Ms O' Sullivan.

She acknowledged that things were difficult for the Government due to the resurgence in Covid infections, but she added that its strategy on wet pubs was "very hard to figure out".

"Pubs that serve food have been allowed to reopen. But you would wonder what the difference is if all pubs just had to abide by whatever guidelines were put in place.

"If we all followed the guidelines to the letter of the law there is no reason why wet pubs should stay closed. It's a bit galling that we have to stay closed when we are willing to fully abide by whatever guidelines are put in place," she said.

 

UNCLEAR POLICY ON PUBS

Ms O' Sullivan said the government was unclear in relation to its policy on pubs. The confusion had been underlined by views expressed by the Táiniste Leo Varadkar at the weekend who said there was no guarantee pubs would reopen before the end of this year.

Underlying the unfair way that wet pubs were being treated was the statement by the Garda Sergeants and Inspectors grouping at the weekend in which it said policing of pubs is “difficult to enforce”.

"I went down the town in Nenagh on Monday morning and I met four publicans like myself that were closed - and they just find it all very hard mentally.

"This drip feed of information from the Government is very hard on them," said Ms O' Sullivan, who is a former National President of the Irish Vintners Federation.

Adding to the frustration of owners of closed pubs was the lack of detail around the €16 million aid package announced for the sector in recent days.

"All we got to see so far of that package was the press release about it. We still have to see the finer details, but it's by no means a fantastic package," said Ms O' Sullivan.

 

LOWRY WANTS SUPPORT PACKAGE REVIEWED

Deputy Michael Lowry has called on the Government to review the support package they announced on Friday afternoon.

He says that the package is negative and is not enough to meet the needs of publicans across the country, most of whom are struggling to keep their heads above water after almost six months of closure.

This sector has suffered enormously as a result of imposed rules preventing them from trading and earning a living.

"Publicans have lost their livelihoods," says Deputy Lowry.

"The Government cannot expect them to stay closed in the interest of public health while, at the same time, not provide them with a basic income support package. I have been inundated with phone calls and messages since the package was announced from publicans who are desperate for help at this stage. They are at their wits end with worry and have no idea when they will be allowed to re-open their businesses."

Deputy Lowry says that what is needed immediately is an adjusted support package that will generate a basic weekly wage for publicans and their families.