On March 15, fitness instructor Ray Minehane closed down his gym in Bantry, Co Cork – a few days before Taoiseach Leo Varadkar formally pulled the shutters on this industry and all other non-essential public spaces to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Minehane and the two coaches he employs at RPM Fitness accessed government income support schemes, which he says have worked well. Rates, too, were suspended immediately. Then came the €833.33 monthly rent he owes Cork County Council for the unit the gym occupies in Bantry Enterprise Centre. “I emailed them four weeks ago saying I wouldn’t be able…

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