A pub owner in Co Limerick says he is opening on Monday morning, despite Government advice not to do so.
Gearoid Whelan from Whelan's Bar in Newcastle West says if the airports are allowed open then he should be able to do the same.
It was announced on Wednesday that pubs which just sell alcohol will not be able to open until August 10th.
But Gearoid says pubs are being unfairly targeted.
"I'm opening on Monday morning...if the airports are open why should we be suffering?
"We've had practically zero cases in west Limerick, thank God.
"There's been no case at all in Limerick in the last week, and yet there's planeloads of Americans arriving in.
"And other nationalities arriving into Ireland."
He said they have already suffered huge loses: "Turnover-wise we're down 300,000 or 400,000 already".
While he said the reaction in the community is "very positive".
"We've always run a good house, we're 70 years in the business.
"My grandfather, my father and myself - it's a family-run business, we'd have a good name for running a good pub."
"I'd stay closed till Christmas if the airports were closed or if there's mandatory testing, but there isn't.
"So I think why should we be made to pay the price for everything".
"I've spent about 10,000 on getting it ready for re-opening, social distancing requirements and sanitising stations and all that stuff.
"It's nearly a hospital standard.
"All we want to do is get the chance to prove we can do it".
Gearoid also spoke to The Hard Shoulder.
Reporting by: Josh Crosbie
