"Why people would not follow the best public health advice and close pubs and desist from congregating in groups is beyond belief.”

A dramatic escalation of the coronavirus crisis has seen 40 new cases confirmed and a nationwide closure of every pub and nightclub, putting 50,000 jobs in jeopardy.

Leo Varadkar reinforced the point that there should be no indoor gathering over 100 people to try and halt the outbreak of Covid-19 - and that this includes pubs and clubs.

Meanwhile, hotels across the country will also take a financial hit with the cancellation of parades.

A coalition of business leaders, hoteliers, publicans and restaurateurs in Cork say their focus remains on doing everything possible to ensure the delivery of the Cork event centre as it faces yet about obstacle.

By contrast, Dublin city and county has lost just 10 pubs in the same period, dropping from 786 to 776.

Key figures in Cork’s business and hospitality sectors have asked to meet developers, BAM, to seek reassurances about the stalled event centre project.

A dedicated Garda fraud unit is urgently needed to tackle insurance scams, according to the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

A publican lobby group has warned of "rapidly changing" consumer drinking habits to which the industry must adapt.

Vintners say rural Ireland needs an urgent sustainable transport solution to combat the effects of new drink-driving legislation.

In 2004, Ireland went further than any other country and banned smoking in the workplace. Publicans led the outrage, but ultimately it was seen as a success. Now, however, there are more challenges — and Ireland is lagging, reports Caroline O’Doherty.

Rural drivers should be given new licences which allow them to pick up passengers for a set price within 15km of their homes in a bid to clamp down on ongoing drink driving concerns.

There has been a joint call for the current 9% Vat rate on food to stay put.

The success of the Ed Sheeran concerts in Cork, which were worth an estimated €60m to the local economy, has given the city a taste of what an events centre could deliver, business leaders said yesterday.

Pubs in rural areas have to turn over at least €8,000 per week or they may not survive, according to a new report.

Pubs and nightclubs in Cork city have embraced an initiative to help people who feel at risk or vulnerable while out socialising.

“Presenting the figure of 1.3% is a selective use of the data in an attempt to undermine the real impact of drinking and driving.”

The organisation that represents publicans outside Dublin has denounced plans by Transport Minister Shane Ross to strengthen drink-driving laws, saying there is no evidence to support his assertion that the move would save lives.

Campaigners in Ireland have welcomed the decision by Scottish judges to reject an appeal against minimum unit pricing.

Don’t get too ansty if the bartenders at the Tír na nÓg pub in Aarhus, Denmark, appear to take their time answering the phone.

Publicans have lashed out at “archaic” laws that will see pubs shut today — even though matchgoers at Ireland versus Switzerland will be able to enjoy a pint.

Publicans have renewed the fight to get pubs opened on Good Friday, claiming the ban on the sale of drink is archaic.

Plans for a minimum alcohol price have suffered a setback after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled similar plans in Scotland would breach EU law if less restrictive tax measures could be introduced.

Publicans have urged Health Minister Leo Varadkar to “plough on” with plans to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol following a European Court of Justice ruling appeared to make the regulations harder to implement.

The head of the Vintners’ Federation has warned that a publican or bar worker could be killed because of increased levels of violence unless tougher sentences are handed down to those involved.

Attacks on publicans have risen 40%-50% in recent years and the lack of appropriate sentences is only exacerbating the problem, writes Padraig Cribben

In publican speak, they’re the ‘lost generation’ — younger people who have forsaken the traditional pub for the nightclub or home-drinking, as well as the tens of thousands that have emigrated.

A Fianna Fáil councillor has called for the removal of the LGBT community’s rainbow flag from above Cork’s City Hall, one of the world’s longest cruise liners docked in Cork today and Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has been voted the 2015 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.