Pubs and hotels hail measures for businesses hit by Omicron

President of the Irish Hotel Federation Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, pointed out that, "normally, December trade sustains the very challenging off-peak months at the start of the new year."

Publicans and hoteliers have welcomed the Government's decision to extend the employment-subsidy scheme and one further support because of the threat of the Omicron variant.

The measures mean that the Government won't target the worst-hit parts of the economy affected by the new health restrictions by refashioning current supports for hospitality businesses alone because such schemes would be difficult to run, it said.