NINE STEPS TO RESCUE THE SECTOR...

THE Restaurants Association of Ireland has called for these measures to help the sector:

VAT: A 0% VAT rate for tourism and hospitality for the period of the crisis and 12 months thereafter, and then revert to 9% for a period of five years.

RENTS: Legislation to protect commercial lease holders and any mortgage holiday or writeoffs to be passed on to the lease holder. A scheme that France called the 60/20/20 where the Government supplements rent by 60%, landlord reduces rent by 20% and commercial tenant pays 20% for 12 months of the crisis.

BANKS: No banking fees for hospitality until a vaccine is found. ECB interest rates on loans and a moratorium on existing loan repayments.

INSURANCE: Payouts under business interruption and notifiable disease clauses. Forbearance, in either rebates or extensions to policies for period of closure, and no suspension of cover whilst businesses are closed.

WAGE SUPPORTS: Continued supports for restaurants and hospitality until vaccine is found. Support for people over the age of 66 and seasonal workers in the PUP and Wage Subsidy schemes. LIQUIDITY/GRANTS: A Business

Department package of grants for firms to cover outgoings in the first six months following the return of normal trading.

COMMERCIAL RATES: Rates write-off for restaurants and hospitality for the full crisis period until a vaccine is found.

UTILITIES: Ban on utility providers cutting off services and demanding payments when businesses are closed. Review of standing charges for closure period. OUTDOOR SEATING: Waiver of licences for outdoor tables and chairs for one year to enable businesses to reopen and adapt to social distancing using outdoor spaces.