Danny Healy-Rae criticises midnight pub closures and calls for aid
Danny Healy-Rae spoke on 6 Oct 2020 about the decision to close rural pubs and other businesses after 12 o'clock, arguing that areas with very small coronavirus numbers such as Kerry and the west coast did not merit the closure. He warned the move will have massive psychological and financial repercussions for publicans and rural communities and demanded clarity on financial assistance.
Closure decision
He said rural pubs in Kerry and other businesses must be closed again after 12 o'clock tonight and recalled that he had warned last week that closures would follow, citing the need to balance the country because of massive numbers in Dublin.
Impact on rural communities
He warned the shutdown will have a massive psychological and financial impact on publicans, customers and rural people in general, stressing the disproportionate effect on small communities with low case numbers.
Financial assistance sought
He asked directly if the businesses would receive financial assistance, questioning what support will be provided to those forced to close a second time.
Critique of outdoor service proposal
He criticised the suggestion that 15 customers could be served outside, arguing that the proposal showed no comprehension of rural Ireland or of the local weather.
Health and weather concerns
He warned that forcing people to sit outside in poor conditions could cause illness, saying that if people "wouldn't die with the coronavirus, they would certainly get pneumonia and die anyway."
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So rural pubs in Kerry and other businesses have to be closed again after 12 o'clock tonight. In the order of business, last week I told you I knew that you were going to close them down again, even though we have very small numbers in places like Kerry and along the west coast and it doesn't merit a closure but I knew and a lot of people knew as well that Dublin wasn't going to be let open after another week. because of the massive numbers so to balance the thing out, even while the country closed down. It's going to have a massive psychological and financial repercussions for the people, publicans and the customers and the rural people in general to close them down again. What are they going to do with them? Are they going to give them financial assistance? I mean to talk about a long 15 customers to be served outside in the open air. people that are seated outside somewhere tells me that they have no comprehension that they have no comprehension at all about rural Ireland and not even the weather. And if people wouldn't die with the coronavirus, they would certainly get pneumonia and die anyway. if you're going to if that's all the suggestion you have it please
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