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Fáilte Ireland Updates the Reopening Guidelines for Restaurants and Cafés following nationwide move to Level 5

On 19 October 2020, the Government announced that the entire country would enter Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 from midnight Wednesday 21 October 2020 for a period of six weeks.

One of the key consequences of this is an increasing of restrictions for the hospitality sector and as a result the Failte Ireland Guidelines for Reopening Cafés and Restaurants (“the Guidelines”) have now been updated to reflect the new measures in place for restaurants and cafés under Level 5.

As noted in the updated Guidelines, the primary change for restaurants and cafés is that under Level 5 they are only permitted to provide take away or delivery services – no indoor or outdoor dining of any kind is permitted. This is also the case for pubs and wet pubs, (although in Dublin wet pubs are still required to remain closed).

This represents a significant change to the measures that were in effect under Levels 3 and 4, where such businesses were permitted to provide outdoor dining services to a maximum of 15 patrons, subject to a capacity to provide for adequate social distancing measures.

The Guidelines also state that a closing time of 11:30pm for restaurants and cafés remains in effect under Level 5.

Compton Solicitors will continue to update this page with the latest information and developments, as they become available.

This document is intended to provide a general overview and guidance on a particular topic. It is provided wholly without any liability or responsibility on the part of Compton Solicitors and does not replace the necessity to obtain specific legal advice.