‘Summer will be Lost’ if Indoor Dining is Delayed by two Weeks – RAI’s Adrian Cummins July 2, 2021 Admin Irish News </p> <h2>Restaurateurs say the “Summer will be lost”</h2> <p> Restaurateurs say the “summer will be lost” if the return of indoor dining is delayed until later in July.<br /> <br /> NPHET meets today to consider its advice to the Government about the easing of restrictions on July 5th.<br /> <br /> The meeting has been moved forward, amid growing speculation that the return of indoor dining could be pushed back two weeks due to concerns over the Delta variant of COVID-19.<br /> <br /> The Taoiseach has pledged a final decision will be made in the coming days, with a Cabinet meeting now set to take place earlier in the week than previously planned.<br /> <br /> A number of prominent health experts and scientists have said there’s a strong case for delaying the reopening so more people will be fully vaccinated.<br /> <br /> In contrast, infectious diseases expert Professor Paddy Mallon has argued that a few weeks delay won’t make a substantial difference to the spread of the Delta variant.<br /> <br /> Adrian Cummins of the Restaurants Association of Ireland told Newstalk Breakfast it seems “50-50” about whether the reopening will go ahead next week.<br /> <br /> He said: “Considering the North of Ireland is open fully… we’re an outlier.<br /> <br /> “Now is the time to open, in our view, because the summer will be lost if we wait another two or three weeks.”<br /> <br /> Mr Cummins argued that Ireland’s in a “different position” now than in previous reopenings, due to the vaccination programme.<br /> <br /> However, he said the reopening of restaurants seems like a “moveable feast”.<br /> <br /> He argued: “Hotels have been open since June 2nd with no outbreak of Delta variant. We’re very clear on this: we need to open, and we want to open on July 5th.<br /> <br /> “Even if there is a delay, we’ll need to look for extra business supports. That must come, in the form of increased payments to our businesses.”<br /> <br /> He said businesses are at the “end of their tether”, with bills to pay and staff to organise.<br /> <br /> Credit to : Newstalk</p> <p> Please support our Sponsors here --
