‘Kicked around and treated like dirt’ – publicans plan to protest
PUBLICANS have accused the Government of treating them ‘like dirt’ following the decision to keep the country’s pubs closed for at least another three weeks.
On Tuesday, the Government announced that the country will not be entering into Phase Four of the roadmap for reopening the economy, meaning pubs that do not serve food will be forced to remain closed.
Deirdre O’Connor, owner of the Croke Park Bar in Croagh, Co. Limerick, told the Irish Daily Mail she is ‘absolutely devastated’ by the Government’s decision and vowed to organise a protest among her fellow publicans in a bid to overturn the move.
‘I’m trying to get a bit of fight back into the body, trying to rally the troops and trying to get the rest of the pub owners that are closed together and get this view overturned, because I think we’re being really badly treated,’ she said.
Ms O’Connor added that while some financial support has been forthcoming during the closure, it is not enough to ensure her business can keep going.
‘I’m not covered by insurance for my loss of earnings. I still have to have the machines turned on and I’m still paying an ESB bill. My ESB bill was €1,390 – for two months.
‘I’m renting so I can’t justify trying to stay in business. I’m at it 17 years. I don’t know how long more I can take it because we’re getting no support.’
Speaking to the Niall Boylan Show on Classic Hits radio, Ms O’Connor said she already has 12 fellow publicans willing to join her protest, adding that they plan on gathering in groups of ten to allow for social distancing.
William Clynch, the owner of the Moone High Cross Inn in Co. Kildare, said pub owners are being treated as ‘second class citizens’.
‘What they’re doing is, they’re destroying livelihoods. Our lives at the minute are put on hold,’ he said.
‘We’re not really sure what the Government based their decision on. You can’t really compare a rural pub to a bar or restaurant in Europe. The setting is completely different.
‘We’re coming on six months closed now as well, so unfortunately something realistically needs to be done. Obviously they’re not clamping down on the major issues like house parties.’
According to Tom Dunbar of Dunbar’s in Ferns, Co. Wexford, publicans are ‘in despair’ as they face at least three more weeks of closure.
‘We’re really being treated like dirt, there’s no question about it,’ he said.
‘We’re the people who have absolutely, 100%, done what we were supposed to do all the time. You feel like you’re being kicked about like a football. We’re being used by the Government to frighten…’
Mr Dunbar expressed frustration that people are allowed to go abroad, but cannot visit their local pub. ‘My neighbour next door here can go to Greece and drink his head off, and he can’t come across the road here to me and get a pint,’ Mr Dunbar said. ‘At this stage, you nearly feel like giving up, that’s the truth, you
really, truly would. [After] 50 years, I’ve never been as downbeat and depressed.’
A spokeswoman for the Taoiseach last night said there are a range of measures in place to support businesses, but scope for additional supports will be examined later.
She said: ‘I know that this will come as a blow to pub owners and I want them to know that I have enormous sympathy for their plight. This virus is taking away their ability to earn a living. It is stopping them from providing a key service in the heart of many communities.
‘But we are doing what we are doing to save lives and to give our society and economy the best chance we can to reopen safely.’
Meanwhile, the Rural Independent Group has called for a meeting with the Taoiseach, the Health Minister and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to discuss the delay, which it described as a
‘We’re being so badly treated’
‘hammer blow to the heart of rural Ireland’.
Leader of the group Mattie McGrath said rural pub owners should be trusted to run their businesses safely.
‘This is a blatant attack on rural Ireland and on the publicans, many of whom are over 66 and not receiving any support from the Government as they are not entitled to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP),’ he said.
‘It is of little use the Taoiseach and Tánaiste saying that the PUP will be extended until next April and that pubs can apply for the restart grant when they reopen as many of these pubs simply will not make it that far and feel that they have no option but to close permanently.’
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae said publicans should be given a chance to operate responsibly, like every other industry.
‘They’ve really sold out on our publicans and their customers, because this is not just about the Vintners, it’s also about the customers...The Government is so far removed from reality in making this decision,’ he said.
‘They have to realise the public would act responsibly to ensure each others’ safety. All they want
‘Government is far from reality’
to do is be given a chance. Every other business has been allowed to open.’ Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue said he is aware of at least 11 pubs which will not now reopen following the announcement. Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly has called for socalled ‘wet’ pubs to be given additional grant aid of either €12,000 or €25,000 depending on their size, and for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme to be extended for affected workers.
‘While the decision has been taken in the best interest of public health, the continued closure of these pubs is putting considerable strain on workers and proprietors,’ she said.
‘These “wet pubs” have looked on as other pubs licensed to serve food were allowed to reopen, and they had hoped that they would be issued with similar opening guidelines so that they could recommence service.
‘If something is not done for these pubs, then many will simply not be able to reopen and these businesses and the jobs will be lost.’