Publicans 'stunned' by ‘hammer blow’ as government announce delay to pub openings

Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking at a post-cabinet press briefing at Dublin Castle yesterday.

Publicans say that they have been left "stunned" after the government decided to delay the opening of pubs which don't serve food until August 10, a move the industry said could cost thousands of jobs.

However, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the decisions had been made due to the rise in cases in recent weeks, which he said represented a "very real" threat.