Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for coming before Seanad Éireann this morning. As we are all aware, the hospitality sector has been hammered since March 2020. Having worked in the sector for over 20 years, I retain many close friends and colleagues within the sector. Many have contacted me since the Government's decision not to allow reopening on 5 July and most said that this was the lowest point of the pandemic for them so far. I am not sure whether those who do not have the experience of the hospitality sector appreciate how important the summer season is for it. That period allows these businesses to survive the dark and wet nights of winter when very few people venture out. Many hospitality businesses take in as much turnover in a week in July as they would for most or all of November.

Yesterday, thankfully, we reached a level of over 50% of adults being fully vaccinated, including all those in the most at-risk categories. It is simply unacceptable that indoor hospitality remains closed under these conditions. I looked through the membership of NPHET yesterday and while these are obviously capable and qualified people, I did not see one name with economic expertise. I did not see one person who ever ran his or her own business and understood the stresses involved. The members of NPHET are entirely focused on managing this pandemic as best they can, which is their job, but at this point we need a much broader view. We need to recognise the impact recommendations are having on thousands of businesses. Many small family-run enterprises across this country have been denied the ability to earn a living for the past 15 months, as have some 150,000 staff in restaurants, bars and the hospitality sector in general. The situation cannot remain as is.Frankly, to extend it any longer into August, whereby Irish indoor hospitality businesses will be the only such businesses in Europe that are unable to operate, would be ridiculous. I noted the NPHET letter referred to high case numbers potentially having an impact on children returning to schools in person. I interpret that as a suggestion that indoor hospitality may be closed until September. It is crazy. It is not clear why we cannot use antigen testing across the sector. It could be used for a concert in Dublin last weekend, but we cannot use it for indoor hospitality despite six countries across Europe using it for that purpose. Ultimately, NPHET advises, but the Government must decide. The Government must take action and resolve this within the next two weeks.

I acknowledge that the Government has implemented unprecedented supports, which have been excellent, and I talk to business people every day across Galway city and county. The supports include the wage subsidy scheme and the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, which the Taoiseach announced last week will double this week and next week for businesses that are still closed. However, it is clear now that these businesses have missed their peak periods of the year and will require additional supports both in the short and longer term. The stimulus for the hospitality sector which the Government has promised to implement will need to have a significant focus on the businesses across this sector.