Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is unbelievable that at this stage, after the past almost two years, we have such a crisis in the hospitality sector. I experienced a notable increase in phone calls and emails from people in the hotel and restaurant sector, especially on Monday and Tuesday. To say the sector is in a tailspin at present is nearly an understatement. Staff in one local hotel told me that they had a 75% cancellation rate in the run-up to Christmas. Another local restaurant has a rate of 64%. It can be assumed that a cancellation rate of well over 50%, and right up to 80%, is taking place.

I accept that this is about people making their own decisions. We should remember and, hopefully, we can say today, and the Leader will echo what I am saying in her response, that there is nothing against family and friends going out for a meal in a hotel or restaurant. There is nothing wrong in going out to a pub for a drink. We need to support the hospitality sector. Even the Chief Medical Officer has not said it is not safe. It is quite clear that Christmas parties as normal will not take place because businesses and others are deciding they will not have the traditional Christmas party, but I have been told by some of those working in the most outstanding businesses in my locality that they will close if this continues.Those businesses had to retrain people and now they are starting to let staff go again. We have to get the balance right. This is decision-making by people, but I would hope that we could send out a clear message that not everything is closed. As long as we adhere to the guidelines and continue to wear masks, wash our hands etc. we can go out, even before Christmas, and we can have that time with our family and friends.