Pringle says Government plans for hospitality sector are confused and unfair
- Updated: 30th June 2021
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said the Government’s plans in relation to reopening the hospitality sector are confused and unfair to businesspeople, workers and the public.
Deputy Pringle said: “It’s a fiasco. I wouldn’t have started from here, but now this is where we are and it should be fair.
“I can book a hotel down the country and go and eat and drink there, but someone who lives beside it can’t. It’s mad, really. As someone said, it is also a class thing. If I can afford to book a hotel, I can eat and drink all I want on the premises,” he said.
The deputy said it was also wrong to allow people who are vaccinated to visit pubs and restaurants but not those who are not vaccinated, and asked how that would be monitored.
“And what about the staff – are we saying they don’t matter?” he asked. The deputy also said the proposal is very unfair to businesses that cannot easily create an outdoor dining area at their premises.
Deputy Pringle said: “We all appreciate the seriousness of the pandemic and the need to take precautions, particularly in light of the delta variant. At the same time, Government needs to be consistent in its messaging. There has been too much mixed-messaging from this Government since the start of the pandemic crisis.”
