Ninety per cent of restaurants face permanent closure in the coming months, according to the Restaurants Association of Ireland.

The trade body claims 120,000 jobs would be permanently lost as a result.

It's calling on the government to take nine key steps to prevent the sector being wiped out.

They include a zero per cent VAT rate, a commercial rates write-off, and for the government to pay 60 per cent of a restaurant's rent.