Dublin café “will not discriminate” in light of new indoor dining restrictions

"We stand 100% for inclusivity."

A café in Dublin has said they "will not discriminate" against un-vaccinated customers following the government's most recent restrictions announcement. Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed yesterday that plans for indoor dining will be pushed back, and that once such dining returns, it will be limited only to people who have been fully vaccinated. Popular East Wall dining spot, East Road Cafe, has since announced that they plan to open indoor dining to all customers, irrespective of their vaccine status. "In light of the governments recent announcement, East Road Cafe will NOT discriminate against any of its customers," they said on social media. "We stand 100% for inclusivity and equality. East Road Cafe is open to all." The government's announcement as backed by NPHET has been highly criticised among restaurant owners and vintners alike. CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins said yesterday that the proposed rules "make no sense." “Restaurant, Pub and Café Owners will now be placed in the unenviable, complex and difficult position of allowing vaccinated customers enter indoors and restricting non vaccinated customers to outdoor dining," he said. "Such a practice of refusing access to goods and services in currently illegal under equality acts. The hospitality sector contains a diverse range of workers by age with front of house mostly the unvaccinated age groups, who will now be asked to refuse access to their peers? "This makes no sense and will restrict indoor dining to those in the 40 – 60 age groups who are fully vaccinated whilst the hotel across the street has families and guests dining indoors since 2nd June." Indoor dining was originally scheduled to recommence on July 5 but due to the prevalence of the Delta variant, has been delayed by at least two weeks. It is not yet known what the government's plan for limiting indoor dining to vaccinated people will look like, or how it will work.