NORTH WEST FINANCIAL INTERVENTION WILL HELP SOME BUT WONT COVER BILLS FOR MANY OTHERS

07 October 2020

NORTH WEST FINANCIAL INTERVENTION WILL HELP SOME BUT WONT COVER BILLS FOR MANY OTHERS

Welcoming the emergency intervention by the Finance Minister Conor Murphy, Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster said:

 

“Having met with the Finance Minister last night I have no doubt of his commitment to the hospitality industry in the North West, but we also recognise that the hospitality businesses in the North West are concerned they are being singled out and put into a virtual lockdown. It is therefore essential that we are given the evidence to back the assertion that hospitality is responsible for the spread of the virus. If this is the case, we can then work to make our industry safer and remove the need to repeatedly lock it down.”

 

“The grant scheme for the hospitality sector in the North West is a much needed intervention which cannot get to businesses quick enough. Right across Northern Ireland, hospitality businesses are fighting for survival especially in the Derry and Strabane area, and while this financial package will help some, for many it will still not cover all the bills which need paid. After the pressures of the last six months, it is no exaggeration to say that for many, money has simply run out.”

 

“These businesses are facing a very bleak period and it is only right that the Finance Minister has promptly delivered this grant scheme. Hospitality businesses in the North West have not had a proper or fair chance to trade for a large part of this year and we hope that this quick fix will only be a temporary measure. The hospitality industry is particularly important to the North West economy and it is vital that it is allowed to reopen in a safe way following the end of the current restrictions.”

 

“It is imperative that everyone in the industry and the wider community doubles down on their efforts to get the virus under control so that the industry can reopen in less than two weeks’ time. We will continue to work with the Executive to make the case for the hospitality industry at this very difficult time.”