Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the matter of the reopening of pubs on 10 August. To state the obvious, public health and safety is paramount for both staff and customers so the guidelines must be followed to the letter of the law.Bars serving food, as the Cathaoirleach will be aware, have been open since 29 June. This has gone reasonably well. Premises which have not followed the guidelines should be closed forthwith.

I facilitated a high-level meeting with the Taoiseach and senior officials in his Department on Friday last to give them a better understanding of the challenges that remain. As Senators will be aware, pubs in rural areas will have been closed for 20 weeks on Sunday. Behind every business and pub is a family, many of whom have contacted me from around the country. In excess of 60% of licensed premises have not opened since 15 March. Shebeens have opened and house parties have taken place nightly, certainly in Galway city and county. These are a greater public health risk than any pub in a rural village. We are the first to close and the last to reopen. Thankfully, there are only six people in hospital with Covid, following the peak of 900. We are ten days away from opening. Fáilte Ireland is meant to issue guidelines and we could do with them today or tomorrow. I ask the Deputy Leader to request that the relevant Minister issue guidelines to pubs in rural areas. These should be enforced to the letter of the law.