Lynn Boylan urges the Irish Government to intervene after the Silk Road Café in Dublin Castle was told to close for six months to facilitate the State's EU Presidency. She warns the forced closure will cost jobs and deepen the cost-of-living and housing pressures facing workers.
What happened and why it matters
Lynn Boylan sets out that the Irish Government will take over the EU Presidency in July and argues this moment should showcase leadership on international law, neutrality, a united Ireland and energy costs. Instead, she says, the immediate legacy appears to be the enforced closure of a beloved business and unemployment for café staff.
Who is affected
The Silk Road Café, run by Abraham Phelan and due to mark its 25th anniversary, employs 25 people, some of whom have worked there for 20 years. Boylan highlights that staff were given no notice, no compensation and now face paying rent in a city already experiencing a housing crisis and record rents.
Appeal to government and precedent
Boylan calls on the Irish Government to find a solution, recalling that a resolution was reached during the last Presidency 13 years ago. She frames the closure as an avoidable act of disregard and urges ministers to save the jobs and save the Silk Road Café before the Presidency begins.
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Thank you Chair. In July the Irish Government will take over the EU Presidency and this should be an occasion for the Irish Government to lead on international law, defending Irish neutrality, leading on a united Ireland and tackling the cost of energy. Instead it looks like the legacy of the Irish Presidency will be the closure of a business and the unemployment of workers. The Silk Road Café is a much-loved establishment that was due to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It's located in Dublin Castle and is run by Abraham Phelan. It's an employee's 25 staff, some of whom have worked for the café for 20 years. They have now been told that they must close for six months to facilitate the Presidency. How can any business survive being closed for six months with no notice, no compensation, never mind in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis? How are the workers expected to pay their rent in a city already experiencing a housing crisis and record-breaking rents? This is the height of disregard and disrespect and I implore the Irish Government to find a solution like they did during the last Presidency 13 years ago. Save these jobs, save the Silk Road.
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