Publicans claim they are being used as 'messaging tool' by government

CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, Padraig Cribben, is worried pubs are being blamed for the mistakes of the general public.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland says if some pubs don't reopen next Monday as part of Phase 4 they may never reopen.

Pubs have been closed for 140 days and any further extension to the closure will mean many will go out of business, they said.