NO DANCING OUTDOORS!

Music outside allowed but mingling at tables banned under new wedding rules Tánaiste apologises over Merriongate but says hospitality guidelines ‘probably weren’t breached’

WE won’t be taking to the dancefloor anytime soon, as dancing and mingling are among the things banned under new hospitality guidelines.

The ban on dancing is despite the fact that live music is now allowed at a 200-person outdoor event.

New rules were published yesterday following the controversial bash held by former children’s minister Katherine Zappone in Dublin’s Merrion Hotel on July 21.

After widespread anger over Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s attendance at the event, the Government published advice from the attorney general, Paul Gallagher, stating that outdoor events and gatherings for up to 200 people are allowed under the regulations.

Last night, Mr Varadkar apologised

for attending the event in the Merrion Hotel. He admitted hospitality guidelines ‘probably weren’t’ breached at the Merrion, as it was not clear what was and was not allowed.

However, Mr Varadkar denied that Fáilte Ireland was forced to scramble to come up with new rules as a result of the backlash to the event.

The redrafted guidelines, published yesterday, contain a brand new chapter on ‘outdoor events’. They state that up to 200 guests can attend events in most establishments. However, if an area can hold more than 5,000 people, the maximum number of guests increases to 500.

In a blow to brides, this new rule does not apply to weddings and the guest cap of 100 remains.

While multiple tables can be booked outdoors by one individual, mingling is not allowed.

Live music is now permitted for outdoor events once the performance area is at least two metres away from the customers.

Despite this, dancing remains banned, with the guidelines stating that customers must stay seated at their table except when ‘availing of a food counter service, using the toilet and paying’.

Live music and dancing are also prohibited at weddings under updated Fáilte Ireland guidelines published for hotels yesterday. They say that ‘Government Public Health advice states that no live/ loud music or performances are permitted indoors’.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Six One News last night, the Fine Gael leader

‘It wasn’t all about the Merrion’

admitted that the rules on outdoor dining were never clear. He added that he ‘let his guard down’ and apologised for attending the event in the Merrion Hotel.

However, he denied that he was involved in creating the hospitality guidelines, even though his Department of Enterprise negotiated with the hospitality forum and Mr Varadkar gave a press conference on the matter.

‘I do want to state very clearly that the event was not in breach of the Government regulations in place at the time which allowed for gatherings of over 200,’ Mr Varadkar said.

‘It probably wasn’t in breach of the Fáilte Ireland guidelines. That’s part of the difficulty. They weren’t clear [...] and were largely silent on outdoor events.

‘It said at the time that you couldn’t book two tables but didn’t say anything about outdoors and that’s one of the reasons why we clarified those guidelines.

‘It certainly wasn’t all about the event in the Merrion. It has been suggested by some people that I negotiated these guidelines. I didn’t. That’s a political charge made up by Sinn Féin.’

He denied that the rules were ‘updated to suit himself’ as he added that he ‘hopes’ he did not undermine public health guidelines.

The new hospitality rules were agreed and published without a full Cabinet meeting taking place this week.

The Cabinet Covid-19 sub-committee took place remotely yesterday afternoon, with ministers dialling in from around the country.

The Irish Daily Mail understands that Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the Tánaiste, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath were all in attendance.

While the sub-committee discussed Confirmations and Communions resuming from September, Mr Varadkar insisted last night that the new hospitality guidelines were not rubberstamped at the meeting.

The Mail also understands that the National Public Health Emergency

Team (NPHET) did not meet this week ahead of the new hospitality guidelines being published.

A Government spokesperson confirmed last night that an updated plan for reopening will be released in the coming weeks.

They also confirmed another 1,782 cases of Covid-19 – the highest daily case count since January.

Reacting to the new guidelines last night, Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said that the rules are ‘unworkable’ and ‘nonsense’.

He told the Mail that some restaurants may even consider taking legal action for loss of earnings.

‘Trying to police 200 people and making sure people are sitting at their tables for a party of up to 200 people is not workable,’ he argued.

‘We need to look at the loss of business due to this miscommunication. Some businesses may look at their own individual legal cases in the future for loss of earnings.’

Padraig Cribben, Chief Executive of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, also admitted that ensuring tables are not intermingling will be ‘difficult to manage’. He added that the guidelines only cover outdoor hospitality and ‘outdoor in this country is not a solution to our problems’.

Taking to social media last night, Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane denied Mr Varadkar’s assertion that Sinn Féin had made up the fact that he negotiated the guidelines.

‘The Tánaiste said on 6.1 News he was not one of the Ministers negotiating with hospitality industry,’ he posted.

‘I texted Stephen Donnelly after agreement was reached seeking a briefing. I was told the Tánaiste was leading on this. No confusion on our part. Endless confusion on Leo’s.’

‘Unworkable and nonsense’