‘€1 on price of a pint could be the way out for pubs’ - Central Bank adviser

His comments come as official figures last week showed almost 1m of the labour force of 2.3m people were claiming some sort of unemployment or Covid-19 payment.

A euro on the price of a pint and a €10 Covid supplement for a meal could be the way out of the economic crisis for many pubs and restaurants and for the tens of thousands of people they employ, according to economics professor Alan Ahearne, who is an adviser to the Central Bank.

Mr Aherane said economists are grappling with ways for businesses like pubs and restaurants to start re-employing thousands of their laid-off staff, as it seems unlikely there will be a ‘big bang’ lifting of social distancing and the public health advice will likely be for a gradual, sector-by-sector re-opening of the economy.