PUBS in Ireland are set to lose a collective total of €8 million per day following the announcement that the reopening plan has been delayed.
Ireland's hospitality sector was dealt a massive blow this afternoon when Taoiseach Micheál Martin's cancelled plans to allow customers indoors.
It means that customers won't be allowed indoors on July 5 as initially scheduled, something which could have severe financial consequences.
Every day that pubs and restaurants remain closed it will cost the industry €8 million.
Some pub owners now fear their businesses may not survive the summer, particularly as the Taoiseach failed to mention when the reopening plan would resume.
Martin stressed that due to the prominence of the Delta variant in Ireland, reopening the country in such a major way would potentially scupper all the good progress made in the last few weeks and months.
He called for "vigilance and patience", and told business owners that supports would be made available.
"We do not want to lose the progress we have made, and I am satisfied that the plan ... represents a sensible, safe and balanced way forward", the Taosieach added.
Reports suggest the reopening delay could last a month, but with hundreds of business owners planning for July around the notion that they'd be open, any delay will likely have devastating repercussions.
"This whole pantomime about announcing a date is just causing a lot of anger," an industry told the Irish Sun.
