Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Radomir Rezny

Hotels federation says it had 'no role in organising or providing clearance' for controversial golf event

The IHF said there was a “time-lag” from the government announcing new restrictions to the update guidance on how it affects industry.

THE IRISH HOTELS Federation (IHF) has released a statement today describing “limitations” in how updated public health advice is communicated by government to industries that need to reflect this new advice.

The IHF also said it had “no role in organising or providing clearance” for the infamous Oireachtas Golf Society event in Galway on Wednesday that has prompted resignations and engulfed the government in turmoil.

On Thursday night, the Irish Examiner broke the story that around 80 people attended an Oireachtas Golf Society function in Clifden, Co Galway. TDs, Senators, an EU Commissioner and a Supreme Court judge were among those in attendance

As the story evolved into a full-blown scandal on Friday, the IHF released a statement saying it had sought clarification from the Department of Tourism on indoor gatherings prior to the event.

On Tuesday, the government unveiled a range of fresh guidance on social gatherings and sport, as well as powers to enforce public health measures following concerns about a spike in the number of cases of the coronavirus in recent weeks.

The mass gatherings section of the new guidance outlines that indoor gatherings and events are now limited to six people from no more than three households. However, there is an exception for weddings for the time being. 

Prior to Tuesday, up to 50 people have been permitted to attend indoor weddings, guidelines which now remains in place as the government said they wish to review the matter.

In its statement today, the IHF said it works closely with government to ensure “robust operational procedures and industry guidelines are in place and effectively communicated” during the crisis. 

It works with the Department of Tourism and Fáilte Ireland to inform hotels and guesthouses of their public health responsibilities, including changes as and when they happen.

It said: “The IHF provides general guidance, and at all times we encourage hotels and guesthouses to comply with the required guidelines. We do not have any role in enforcing, monitoring or approving the implementation of this guidance or operational guidelines.”

The IHF said that when updated public health guidance is announced at government press conferences, there is a “time-lag” in how this updated advice should be reflected in the operational guidelines for the sector. 

“As a result of this time-lag, there is an established process in place with the Department of Tourism for when changes are announced in that the status quo remains in place until updated guidance is issued by the Department,” it said.

“This means that the new advice does not come into effect for tourism businesses until updated guidance is developed and communicated through the Department. This time-lag can create significant challenges, given public expectations around newly announced government advice.”

According to the IHF, such a situation took place this week in relation to the golf event. 

On Wednesday morning, it said the organisers of the event contacted the IHF in relation to the updated guidelines announced the day before.

At that time, it said no update had been provided by the Department of Tourism. Later that day, however, it said the department informed the IHF that the existing guidance remained until clarification was received from the Department of Health.

This existing guidance allowed for a maximum of 50 people at an indoor gathering. 

The IHF said it then informed all hotels and guesthouses that the existing guidance would remain until clarification was provided.

It wasn’t until Friday that the IHF received interim guidance from Fáilte Ireland, which included the provision of gatherings being restricted to six people indoors – with an exception for weddings. 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
69 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Naylor
    Favourite David Naylor
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 1:01 PM

    Autoglass Windscreen Repair’s stock has risen significantly since..

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Linehan
    Favourite Chris Linehan
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 4:16 PM

    @David Naylor: Ridiculously useless fact: over here they’re called Carglass. Same jingle and all.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Naylor
    Favourite David Naylor
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 5:22 PM

    @Chris Linehan: it’s a joke man

    15
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Linehan
    Favourite Chris Linehan
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 6:10 PM

    @David Naylor: Christ. My comment was as described and just a useless fact referencing the English in their Germany based branding and their German in their Ireland based branding. Now that you’ve gone and failed to recognise the lighthearted banter and then had to identify you’re comment as the obvious joke that it was, followed by me writing this comment, means between the two of us, we’ve now sucked all the craic out of this. Sound.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Tallon
    Favourite William Tallon
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 2:12 PM

    There’s no scientific evidence that this event has anything to do with global warming. Giant hailstones have been recorded throughout history when the climate was both warmer and colder than it is today. It’s nothing new. It’s weather. It neither proves nor disproves if global warming is happening. For example…

    ‘On July 12, 1984, a powerful hailstorm pummeled Munich. This ferocious hailstorm travelled at 60 to 70 km/h and left some 70,000 homes with roof damage; seriously dinged more than 200,000 automobiles and about 150 aircraft; and injured more than 400 people…’

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute james boylan
    Favourite james boylan
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 2:39 PM

    @William Tallon:
    This is true. One time I was in Bavaria about 30 years ago, the same thing had happened. I saw a good number of cars that had been badly damaged by hailstones.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O'Keeffe
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 5:14 PM

    @William Tallon: nobody is saying these kind of weather events didn’t happen before, it’s the frequency that’s a concern

    18
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FlopFlipU
    Favourite FlopFlipU
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 6:12 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: when did that happen in recent times apart from this occasion

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean
    Favourite Sean
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 7:26 PM

    @FlopFlipU: in 1984

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute james boylan
    Favourite james boylan
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 8:44 PM

    @FlopFlipU:
    These events happen every year around the world.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ed w
    Favourite ed w
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 2:05 PM

    you know that’s how the day after tomorrow starts

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Phelan
    Favourite Mike Phelan
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 1:23 PM

    Zerbrochene Windschutzscheibe, Überflutungen und Chaos!
    - exactly as you might exclaim at the broken windscreen yourself!

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Flavin
    Favourite Brian Flavin
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 1:31 PM

    Same happen golf ball size hailstones in Australia last Christmas as mine friend pictures send me , blame global warming

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean
    Favourite Sean
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 7:26 PM

    @Brian Flavin: is this a telegram?

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Mc
    Favourite The Mc
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 1:38 PM

    The day after tomorrow. Global warming and no1 gives a dam..

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marianne
    Favourite Marianne
    Report
    Jun 11th 2019, 2:04 PM

    More like HELL.STONES..WAKE UP LEO CLIMATE CHANGE GETTING SERIOUS NOW

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brendan H
    Favourite brendan H
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 3:28 AM

    @Marianne: Calm down its just weather. Its happened before lots of times in history.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TamuMassif2019
    Favourite TamuMassif2019
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 2:36 AM

    Hello, Climate Change… Will August bring them lightening strikes and September hurricanes…

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds