A two-hour rule would be 'very viable' for restaurants when they reopen, according to the head of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
It has emerged that pubs may have to limit customers to 90-minute visits if they want a reduction in the two-metre social distancing requirement.
However, industry groups are now calling for that to be increased to two hours to support reopening businesses.
Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, spoke to The Hard Shoulder about the proposals.
He said: "We welcome the proposal to move from two metres to one metre - that's one of the big stories.... that's a game-changer for industry.
"With regards to the 90 minutes, it's still up for discussion. Fáilte Ireland [has said] they've gone back to the health authorities to try to get it to two hours.
"A two-hour slot is very viable. People want to get staff back into their businesses and back working."
Mr Cummins suggested it's going to be 'very hard to police' any rule for how long people can stay.
He explained: "Everybody wants to do the right thing in this crisis, this emergency that we're going through. Nobody wants an outbreak, and they definitely don't want an outbreak in their premises.
"Let's see what the medical advice will be to back this up, and hopefully we can all work together a viable solution to get businesses up and running and open on Monday week."
He also said the cost of business is "going to rocket" due to the new safety measures, and that some businesses will have to look at their business model to see if they remain viable.
However, he added: "Government will have a part of this also - they can look at the VAT rate for us, supporting us around commercial rates, and on a sectoral support package.
"For restaurants alone, the support package that will give around €33,000 per business is about €120-130 million package that we need - and we need that very, very soon."
90-minute rule 'very difficult'
Donall O'Keeffe, CEO of the Licensed Vintners Association, also spoke to the show about the guidelines.
He said there are a "lot of positives here", as his group had called for "equality of opportunity" across the food service industry.
He told Ivan: "The 90-minute rule is very difficult for us - we are working to try and get that expanded to two hours.
"All of this we see as a temporary little arrangement anyway, given that all pubs in Ireland open on 20th July - the food guidelines won't apply to those businesses.
"Clearly we would expect NPHET and the Department will issue guidelines for the drink elements of pubs, and that we don't have this codology going on ten days from opening with it being leaked to the media and drip-fed to the public."
