‘We want to open our doors again’ - publicans

“We are not looking for a dig out, we are just looking for some common sense to help us open our doors again and start trading.”

That was the message from Westmeath publicans to the trio of local Oireachtas members they met in Mullingar on Thursday evening.

The chairman of the Westmeath branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) Liam Gilleran and colleagues from across the county, including owners of the many so called 'wet pubs' that remain closed because they do not serve food, met with Ministers of State Robert Troy and Peter Burke and Senator Aidan Davitt to discuss the impact of the pandemic.

Mr Gilleran says that the politicians “were left under no illusion as to how hurt we are and how left behind we feel”.

While he believes that targeted supports are needed Mr Gilleran says that what publicans really want is help to reopen as soon as possible.

“We want to trade out of this. We are not in the business of handouts or dig outs. But unfortunately the state has closed us down. I know members like myself have reopened but equally many members have not and are not in a position to reopen.

“While some pubs are using takeaways to help them with the food end of their business, a lot of our members in the country, in particular, are not in a position to do food, which means that they are completely isolated,” he told the Westmeath Examiner.

Mr Gilleran also said that the banking sector has to be more accommodating to publicans at this difficult time.

“Banks are saying that they are here to help us but when we sit down with them and speak to them they are not as helpful as they pretend to be. We didn't ask for this Covid virus to close us down. The rule book they are applying to us is very severe,” he said.

Minister of State Troy said that the hospitality sector was one of the worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and in need of targeted supports.

“You are going into the sixth month of closure. People are frustrated. The deferral of the reopening has heightened that frustration. At the same time there is an appreciation of why it was done.

"They do want to get open but they want it done in a safe environment. They know that the VFI is working with government to establish protocols that will enable them to open in a very safe environment,” he said.

Minister of State Burke says he fully understands what pubs are facing: “I worked with many in the industry as an accountant and also my wife ran The Wood pub in Crookedwood for years.

“It's very clear the pressure they are under. There needs to be signficant package of supports and the timing is urgent at this stage. There also needs to be clear and precise guidelines,” he said.

Senator Davitt says that it is an “extremly tough time” for the sector.”Many publicans have young families. These people are immersed in their local community and the pub in a lot of cases is one of the cornerstones in rural communities.”

“Publicans want to be given the chance to show that they can carry out their duties and protect their staff and customers.”

Sen Davitt added that he believes that a “specific stream of funding” has to be made available to the pub sector.