Up to 120,000 bar and restaurant staff are being laid-off due to COVID-19, according to the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
It was announced yesterday that all pubs and bars, including hotel bars, have been requested by the government to close until at least March 29th.
However, as it stands, cafés and restaurants are permitted to remain open once they implement social distancing.
An update on those guidelines is expected from government this evening.
But the Restaurants Association of Ireland believes that is not safe enough and wants the government to direct them to close.
Its spokesperson Adrian Cummins says people who want meals can still be accommodated.
Speaking on Newstalk's Moncrieff programme he said: "We do feel that people will want to have food or meals and that can be done through a takeaway service.
"Allowing patrons in a front door into restaurants is a recipe for disaster.
He added: "Allowing customers in a door to congregate within a confined area, where staff have been working in close proximity to each other, I think that's where we need better clarity.
"Hopefully, the government will tell us that we should close down.
"This is very, very important and we've been asking and calling for this for the last number of days."
It comes as the government announced today it was establishing a new COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment to support workers as many businesses close their doors around the country.
The payment is available to all employees and self-employed people who have lost their income because of the outbreak.
The €203 payment will be available through a one-page application process on the Department of Social Protection website.
