Tánaiste welcomes reopening of thousands of businesses
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar has today (Monday 10th May) said this is a significant week for business with around 12,000 due to reopen their premises or resume normal trading, and 100,000 people expected back to work this month.
He also indicated that the Work Safely Protocol is being updated to include revised advice on ventilation and workplace antigen testing, and will be launched in the near future.
“This is a moment that businesses across Ireland have been waiting for as we see the return or reopening of around 12,000 businesses, the return of non-essential retail and personal services, and roughly 100,000 people expected to return to work this month.
“As Minister for Enterprise I want to thank companies for their efforts and those of their staff in getting to this point. Thanks to your diligence in fighting the pandemic, and those of the general public, we can move on to the next phase of reopening. This has been the longest lockdown since the pandemic began. I am determined to do all we can to ensure that it is the last.
Government financial supports are expected to remain in place until at least until the end of June, with further financial supports for those most affected by the lockdown expected to be announced by the end of May.
Businesses opening tomorrow will receive a double CRSS payment for each of the next two weeks to help with the cost of re-opening.
“Importantly, we are still asking people to work from home wherever possible. The virus is still circulating, and around two thirds of the adult population have yet to receive the vaccine. Mixing in the workplace can allow the virus to spread, so we all need to continue playing our part in defeating this cruel virus.”