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Hospitality workers disappointed by mid-summer reopening, industry warns

The Irish Hotels Federation say a closure until mid-summer would significantly impact the tourism industry.

AROUND 160,000 HOSPITALITY workers who will likely not return to their jobs before mid-summer due to ongoing restrictions are highly disappointed, hoteliers have said.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin cited concern about uncertainties surrounding new variants of coronavirus and high numbers of infections as he gave a mid-summer date yesterday for potentially reopening the sector.

But Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, president of the Irish Hotels Federation, said the tourism community was shattered to learn of the tentative timeframe for reopening.

She warned: “The implications of yesterday’s announcement are huge in terms of confidence in the survival of Irish tourism. 

“Our people are our greatest asset and yesterday 160,000 tourism people who have temporarily lost their jobs learned that their employment is unlikely to be restored until mid-summer.

“This is about real people and real livelihoods.”

Speaking yesterday, the Taoiseach said he does not foresee reopening pubs before the middle of the summer.

He added public health authorities want him to stick with the current restrictions until April and then reflect on the months ahead.

The Government is expected to update its Living With Covid plan next week.

Fitzgerald Kane said her members are frustrated and anxious.

Prior to the pandemic, 270,000 people’s livelihoods were supported by tourism and 70% of these were outside of Dublin.

The industry representative said: “In some cases, whole communities are built around tourism.

“We are calling for an urgent review of the existing supports for the tourism and hospitality sector. 

“If the all-important summer period is being eroded, additional supports are now required to safeguard businesses and the livelihoods they support until society reopens and the sector and wider tourism industry can recover.”

She also asked the Government to intervene with the banks to ensure they have appropriate support and engagement processes in place for businesses and team members until Covid-19 has been suppressed.

“Our community have been deeply affected over a prolonged period of time,” Fitzgerald Kane said.

“Failure to provide adequate supports now will have long-term implications that could take years to repair.”

Three cases of the potentially more infectious Brazilian mutation have been detected in Ireland.

They are directly associated with recent travel from the South American country, authorities have said.

They are being followed up by public health teams and enhanced measures have been put in place.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute @Anthonyweim
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    Jan 7th 2021, 6:36 PM

    Fantastic idea.

    295
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    Mute Anthony Clark
    Favourite Anthony Clark
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    Jan 7th 2021, 6:37 PM

    Nice work!

    Also having the projects viewable online this year is very good – it’s usually not possible to see the projects in any detail, even when you visit RDS – Young Scientist should do it like this every year.

    131
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    Mute Paul Riordan
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    Jan 7th 2021, 7:09 PM

    I never realised how easy it was to fall asleep at the wheel untill it happened to me. On the M7. Going 120 kph I fell asleep I literally didn’t realise it (Obviously). my wife was beside me asleep . Luckily my car had some lane technology and “bumped” me back in and of course woke me up. All this in about 3 seconds. I shudder to think what might have been.

    54
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    Mute Michael J Hartnett
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    Jan 7th 2021, 8:18 PM

    @Paul Riordan: quite dangerous. It’s very easy to happen. Trying to stay awake on long journeys requires a lot of self awareness and experience.

    19
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    Mute John Kinsella
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    Jan 7th 2021, 6:46 PM

    My 2019 Renault Mégane has that feature! Seriously.

    50
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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Jan 7th 2021, 6:52 PM

    @John Kinsella: ye bought a Renault?seriously.

    126
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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
    Favourite ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Jan 7th 2021, 6:55 PM

    @John Kinsella: My van has it too. Very annoying on long journeys.

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    Mute Darren Byrne
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    Jan 7th 2021, 7:09 PM

    @John Kinsella: wouldn’t be surprised. They’ve been selling devices that do the same thing for years

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    Mute Dave O'Looney
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    Jan 7th 2021, 10:09 PM

    @John Kinsella: I wouldn’t be telling anyone you have a Renault. Scarlehhh

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Jan 8th 2021, 5:46 AM

    @John Kinsella:

    Even so… this young lady is an inventor already and she’ll either fine tune what’s in the market already, or come up with another good idea to research for market potential.

    2
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    Mute Celtic Spirit
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    Jan 7th 2021, 6:49 PM

    Brilliant idea. That student might have a creative life ahead of them!

    45
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    Mute Tony Hickey
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    Jan 7th 2021, 7:00 PM

    Is that not in use already- my car has it and it works

    35
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    Mute The Bolt
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    Jan 7th 2021, 7:05 PM

    @Tony Hickey: Have it as well. Lane assist it’s called.

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Jan 7th 2021, 7:26 PM

    @The Bolt: On a positive note. My car doesn’t. So it would be great to have something you can retrofit.

    33
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    Mute Billbond4
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    Jan 7th 2021, 9:22 PM

    There is different forms of it, the most common is Lane assistance.
    Her idea will probably be to add heart beat sensors into the steering wheel, so it will be in addition to other sensors, it’s a great idea.
    You could do something similar with cameras and monitor your eyes while driving

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    Mute Divad Nayr
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    Jan 7th 2021, 7:13 PM

    Already exists on cars .

    21
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    Mute Jules
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    Jan 7th 2021, 8:34 PM

    My car has this, it’s been around for a number of years

    12
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    Mute Hugh Mc Donnell
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    Jan 7th 2021, 7:33 PM

    Maybe they could just start giving delivery drivers in light commercial vans mandatory rest breaks and tea breaks and actually monitor the amount of hours they have been driving on the build up to Christmas with all the online shopping. I’ve heard horror stories off in excess of 80hrs a week doing ridiculous runs all over the place

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    Mute ciaran enright
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    Jan 8th 2021, 1:17 AM

    I always maintained if you replaced the airbag with a 8″ chiefs knife it would solve a lots of problems

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    Mute Leonard Barry
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    Jan 8th 2021, 1:59 AM

    @ciaran enright: With you in the driving seat.

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Jan 8th 2021, 5:41 AM

    @ciaran enright:

    External sensors linked to your auto pilot might be the healthier option.

    2
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