The VFI Chief Executive said NPHET and the government had “lost the dressing room”.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) has demanded that pubs reopen no later than 19 July and has called the government’s proposal to implement a vaccine pass system for customers “unworkable”.
The VFI met on Wednesday afternoon with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and senior government ministers following the announcement regarding indoor dining on Tuesday.
Yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that the return of indoor dining will be delayed, after recommendations by NPHET.
He stated the reopening of indoor dining could come sooner for people who are vaccinated against Covid-19 as a new system to prove people have received the jab is currently being drawn up.
Government has stated it will devise an implementation plan by 19 July.
The VFI said in a statement that during the meeting it reiterated the view of publicans across the country that “any plan to allow only vaccinated people access to indoor hospitality is not practical and will place publicans and their staff in an impossible position when dealing with customers”.
VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben said the trade organisation will work with government to get pubs open but that any plan that placed the onus on publicans to check a customers’ vaccination status would be “unworkable”.
Cribben added that through their collective decision to postpone indefinitely the reopening of indoor hospitality, NPHET and the government had “lost the dressing room”.
The VFI said the government has committed to set up a small group to quickly establish a working solution to allow the sector to reopen.
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