A publicans group say the majority of their members worry about their future survival

The Vintners Federation of Ireland say they fear that many of their members will not be able to operate this summer if the trade is restricted to outdoor only 

Publicans have expressed their disappointment with the unveiling of the Covid roadmap yestreday by the Taoiseach which they say lacked clarity and didn't even mention the pub sector 

Publicans say while they accept that public health is number one priority, the Government must provide some hope for the 50,000 people who work in the pub sector around the country 

Publican Micheal O'Donovan and Chairman of the Cork branch of the VFI told RedFM News the lack of detail on how the sector will reopen is unacceptable and leading to a huge amount of speculation amongst members: "If it is an outdoor summer, a lot of bars just don't have the topography for outdoors because they could be on street frontage or they could be landlocked. So, for them, it just wouldn't work. If it's outdoors, you know, primarily, I suppose that's aimed at food and the gastro pub section so that would be disappointing if it's again limited to that area. So what we'd be calling for is that all pubs will be given the chance to open together. And that if it is outdoors, it would be unfortunate for some but look at least it would be a start"