Detailed plan to get Irish bars up and running in June announced

The Licensed Vintners’ Association (LVA) and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) are seeking an urgent meeting with the government to discuss their joint plan for getting Irish bars up and running again in June.
"We believe that if other venues who serve food and alcohol are allowed to reopen in Phase 3, then pubs should be granted the same opportunity to trade," they stress.
The re-opening measures they're proposing are:

Bars will become dispense bars only with no sitting, standing, ordering, payment or drinking at the bar allowed.

Table service will be a requirement with pubs only serving customers seated at tables.

The numbers on the premises would be confined to no more than 4 per every 10 square metres.

A maximum of 6 people would be permitted at any one table.

Customers will be required to use hand sanitiser upon entry.

All customers must remain seated.

Staff will be fully trained in the new procedures. They will also be asked to maintain a safe distance from customers when taking orders and to wash their hands thoroughly every 30 minutes.

The utilisation of outdoor spaces to enhance social distancing.
Procedures implemented to ensure safe use of toilet facilities, which may include limits on the numbers using toilets at any one time.

No live music or DJs.

Gardaí / HSE will have the power to close any business who is flouting the public health guidelines.

The two organisations will also stress they remain fully committed to doing what is necessary to protect the health and safety of all staff and customers.

Speaking about the plan, Donall O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of the LVA says: “We fully respect the need to continue to protect the public health. We have repeatedly proven this commitment, not least in the fact that our sector was the first to close across the country. We also believe that if other venues who serve food and alcohol are allowed to reopen in Phase 3, then pubs should be granted the same opportunity to trade. We don’t believe it is in any way appropriate that the Government should apply one rule for some hospitality businesses and another rule for others.

“We are making a series of radical proposal"s to how bars should operate for the reopening scenario," he continues. "Trading will be extremely difficult under these circumstances. There is no doubt that the pub experience as we know it will have to change dramatically. Many pubs may choose not to reopen as it simply won’t be financially viable under these conditions. However, for those who want to trade, these measures will have the essential impact of protecting the health and wellbeing of staff and customers alike."