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23rd Apr 2021

Micheál Martin wants salons and retail “to stay open” once restrictions are eased

Clara Kelly

severe restrictions

He said that the continual reopening and closing of the economy has been “soul-destroying” for many people.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that he wants hair salons, retail and other sectors to be able to “stay open” once restrictions are eased.

Speaking on The Hard Shoulder on Friday the Taoiseach said that the Government is hoping to make “long-lasting” decisions instead of opening and closing the sectors again.

“What I can see happening is gradually we can open up sectors but once we open them, we want them to stay open,” he said.

“We want to make decisions that are long-lasting. Not this short-term start, stop, close down again, that really is soul-destroying for many people in different sectors.”

The Taoiseach said that many people in the sectors which have been shut down in recent months due to the pandemic have stressed the importance of not opening sectors that won’t be allowed to remain open.

“Many people in the sectors have said this to me, ‘don’t open us up please and close us again’ and I think that is very important. I do see a future where those activities will come back,” he added.

The Government will meet next week to make a decision on the roadmap for easing restrictions next week with personal services such as hair salons, and the return of non-essential retail, at the top of their agenda.

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