Many pubs are being forced to close two days a week due to a staffing crisis which was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to groups representing pub owners.
The groups are due to appear before the Oireachtas committee on tourism and culture this afternoon. Chief Executive of the Licensed Vintners Association will say that two years of closures and restrictions had a devastating impact on staff retention in the sector.
In an opening statement, Donall O’Keeffe will tell politicians that it is estimated about one-third of staff have left the sector.
He will say that given the shortages of skilled staff before Covid, the loss of chefs, managers and senior bar staff during Covid has made a difficult situation more challenging.