00:00Good afternoon and welcome. A series of new financial supports for businesses has been
00:10announced to help companies to reopen over the coming weeks and months as COVID-19 restrictions
00:15are gradually lifted. The government measures include a waiver on commercial rates for firms
00:20forced to close at the end of March. Well, let's get the details now from our political
00:25reporter Sandra Hurley, who is at Government Buildings for us. Sandra, the Cabinet met this
00:31morning to decide on these measures. Just what are they? You might talk us through them.
00:38Yes, well, businesses have more clarity now on how long they're going to be shut for,
00:42but longer closures mean that they need more support. So as you say, the Cabinet has met
00:47this morning for the third time this week to sign off on these measures, which amount to 6.5
00:52billion euro in new support. So in them, there is a 2 billion euro credit guarantee scheme,
00:582 billion euro in equity and investment, and 2 billion euro in deferred taxes, along with a
01:05waiver of commercial rates and a restart fund for small businesses. Now, they have been giving,
01:10several ministers have been giving a press conference here behind me at Government Buildings.
01:14The Business Minister, Heather Humphreys, has said that she wants all businesses to be able to reopen
01:19by August 10th. The question, Katrina, is whether these supports will be enough. And here is what
01:25Pascal Donoghue, the Finance Minister, had to say.
01:28They provide businesses, small, medium and large, with access to significant funds to support their
01:37recovery, while secondly, giving certainty on an extended repayment period of deferred taxes,
01:45which we believe, again, will assist during this stabilisation phase.
01:53Well, for the first time in more than a month, the number of patients confirmed with COVID-19 in
01:58intensive care beds in the country's hospitals has fallen below 100. Health authorities have said a low
02:04number of people in ICUs is key to easing restrictions on a phased basis.
02:09It was hoped the 5th of May would mark the beginning of life after what many people called
02:16a lockdown. However, restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 have been extended for
02:22another two weeks. But from Tuesday, people can exercise up to five kilometres from home,
02:28increased from two, while those cocooning can go outside for exercise and fresh air in the
02:33same distance.
02:34What we really need now is the wider community to support this effort by allowing older people
02:41to get out into the community and keep their distance from them.
02:45The first stop on the government's roadmap to reopen the country begins on the 18th of May,
02:50and social distancing will still apply to all proposed changes. From this date, it's hoped
02:56that up to four people can meet or exercise together outdoors. Areas like beaches and mountain
03:02walks and public sport amenities like tennis courts and golf courses can reopen. Those who
03:08work outdoors, like construction workers and gardeners, can get back to work on a phased
03:13basis, while childcare will be available for healthcare workers. In this phase, shops that
03:19are mostly outdoors, like garden centres and hardware stores, can reopen, while other retail
03:24outlets previously open in earlier restrictions, like opticians, motor and bicycle repairs and electrical
03:31shops can also open their doors. This is just the first of five phases. In later stages in the
03:38coming months, people can expect things like a widening of travel restrictions and some return
03:43to work.
03:45Latest data shows there are 99 people with the virus being treated in ICU, the lowest number
03:50in more than a month, while just over a thousand people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are
03:57in hospital. This is the kind of data that health officials will watch closely, before deciding
04:03we can move from one phase to the next. Laura Hogan, RTE News.
04:08While some outdoor tourist sites will be able to reopen from the 18th of May, those working
04:13in tourism say a huge fall in visitor numbers is inevitable this year. Well, our reporter,
04:19Tomás O'Manín, has been assessing the impact in County Clare.
04:25It's one of Ireland's premier tourist destinations, with the Cliffs of Moher attracting over 1.5 million
04:31visitors last year. But for the past number of weeks, since COVID-19 restrictions were imposed,
04:38the popular clifftop walks and paths here have been empty, with only the sound of the seabirds
04:44now echoing from the cliffs. Some tourist sites will be able to reopen from the 18th of May,
04:51but travelling restrictions for the general public will remain in place until the 20th of July.
04:58Last year, over 11 million overseas visitors came to this island, worth in the region of 6 billion euro.
05:06This year, however, with a 90% decrease in passenger numbers at Irish airports,
05:11the tourism sector is facing a very uncertain season.
05:15If you look back to when we closed from March 14th up to the end of April,
05:19we have lost over 200,000 visitors to the Cliffs of Moher,
05:24and this would be a reduction of about 25% of our overall visitor numbers.
05:29We need more than anything. We need a separate minister for tourism.
05:33It's quite clear that there won't be a great tourist season now this year.
05:36Look, in my own case, I'll be lucky to do 40% of what I did last year.
05:42Tourism is going to be hit so hard in this area.
05:44Hopefully the Irish tourism will be increased.
05:47So we're hopeful. We'll get through it.
05:49A bank holiday weekend with no holidaymakers.
05:53The seabirds, at least, can nest without the tourist onlookers.
05:57Tommaso Manin, RT News, in North Clare.
06:00Now, finally, the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un,
06:04has been filmed in public for the first time in almost three weeks.
06:08Amid global speculation over his health,
06:10Pyongyang released footage of him at the opening of a fertiliser factory.
06:14Kim Jong-un hadn't been seen since April 12th,
06:17leading to speculation that he was seriously ill or had passed away.
06:22Well, that is the news for now.
06:24From all the team, thanks for watching.
06:26Good evening, good afternoon even, and do take care.
06:30Good evening, good evening.
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