Ibec calls for faster reopening of economy

Employers' group Ibec has asked the Government to bring forward the phases of reopening of the economy, scrap the quarantine restrictions for people entering the country and reduce the two-metre social distancing rule to one-metre.

In a letter sent to the Taoiseach and other senior Cabinet members today, seen by RTÉ News, chief executive Danny McCoy said the organisation is seeking the "safe return of the majority of businesses before the end of June".

Mr McCoy said the 2m social distancing rule is a "serious challenge" for businesses.

He said if rules are inevitably going to be changed, then businesses must know when.

"Uncertainty around the timing and application of rules will compound economic and social destruction," he wrote.

Childcare facilities, schools and transportation providers are too challenged by this uncertainty, he argued.

"Young people, many of whom are now congregating in large groups outdoors have been shut out of civic, sporting and community facilities and clubs which engage them during the summer months," he stated.

Mr McCoy said business and the infrastructure which holds the community together, providing critical stability and wellbeing in our society, cannot countenance these arrangements.

The Ibec boss also criticised the quarantine restrictions for visitors, arguing business does not believe their timing at this point in the public health curve flattening is logical or implementable.

He also described them as "an unnecessary impediment to recovery".

Mr McCoy said the implementation of policies and rules to address what is now a multi-dimensional problem is urgent and should be prioritised by the Government.

He suggested that to be credible in any future locking down, the credibility of advice and instruction on opening up is equally important.

"As of mid-May most other developed countries have begun to step down the measures taken to suppress their economies in the interest of public health," he argued.

But the Irish roadmap shows the reopening here would be at a more conservative pace, Mr McCoy wrote.

Mr McCoy also called for the implementation of a robust track and trace system to manage Covid cases quickly.

The business leader also stated that a significantly longer lockdown here compared to most developed countries means we cannot plan to run a budget deficit at the lower end of that same group of countries.

"That is, unless, we plan to do much less to protect our business from the economic fallout," he said.

"This in turn would slow the recovery. We can do any two of these three things, but not all three."

Significant measures will also be required, he claimed, to protect the livelihoods of households and businesses, get people back into jobs and bring forward projects from an extended capital plan.