AQW 19728/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 01/06/2021
Answered On Date: 24/11/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to outline (i) the current regulations on buffet-style dining in hotels and restaurants; and (ii) his plans for enabling staff to manage buffet dining arrangements, similar to the policy used during the easing of lockdown restrictions during the summer of 2020.

Answer:

The Executive has committed to a four-week review cycle, where we monitor the data on a range of health and societal impacts, before considering what relaxations can be made safely, with the next review to be held on 10th June. While the Executive formally reviews and make decisions on restrictions every four weeks, our monitoring cycle provides us with the ability to move more rapidly on emerging priorities should the need arise before the next review point.

On 3 June, the Executive agreed that table service is no longer a requirement in unlicensed hospitality settings. These amendments came into effect on Friday 4th June 2021 at 12.30pm in order to facilitate weekend trade. These provisions apply to establishments such as cafés and coffee shops and any restaurant that does not provide alcohol on their premises.

Table service continues to remain a requirement for licensed premises such as pubs, with an exemption for those providing a meal service in the form of a buffet or carvery.