The head of Vinters' Ireland also said it would be the end for several businesses.
In light of the
announcement made on Sunday evening, in which NPHET recommended that the whole of Ireland moves into risk Level 5 of Covid-19 restrictions, the country is still reacting to that news this morning.
While the recommendation from NPHET doesn't automatically mean that we will be moving to Level 5, Government leaders are to meet this week to consider these recommendations.
As part of the
Level 5 restrictions, all restaurants, cafes, and bars can stay open but for takeaway or delivery only, and speaking to
Newstalk Breakfast this morning, the CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins had the following to say about these increased restrictions:
"That Nphet have recommended to Government to go into Level 5, considering that there are certain counties that are doing extremely well in the fight against Covid. There are counties where the cases are above 100, we in the Restaurant Association of Ireland have called for and we're still looking for the international evidence that says that our industry is the cause of the transmission. We haven't seen that evidence yet.
"We haven't seen that evidence yet but if the government move to Level 5 it's going to be catastrophic for our industry, you’re talking about at least 180,000 jobs that will be gone in our industry. And many businesses that are currently on the edge will never return again. And that's the seriousness now of where we are at the moment."
Also speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Chief Executive Of Vintners’ Federation of Ireland Padraig Cribben had the following to say:
"This is not living with Covid. This is death by Covid, it is death by Covid for the businesses certainly that that I represent, a big percentage.
"It is a decision for government to make but it is quite worrying that an advisory body to government seem to have a nine o’clock deadline for the news. To get a headline out there. I don’t think that’s the way we should be doing business. I think advisors should advise, the government now have to start governing."
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