Covid-19: Cabinet to give Gardaí power to close pubs breaching health guidelines
As part of the proposals, it would be an offence to organise or attend a gathering of more than six people in a private house. Picture: iStock
The cabinet is meeting today to consider giving Gardaí the power to close a pub on the spot if they are found to be in breach of Covid-19 rules and increase enforcement powers to shutdown house parties.
The proposed new legislation is part of further measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19 announced last week and is expected to be approved by Ministers today.
As part of the proposals, it would be a criminal offence to organise or attend a gathering of more than six people in a private house.
These discussions follow the National Public Health Emergency Team's (NPHET) advice not to allow pubs that do not serve food to reopen on Monday.
Ministers are expected to act on NPHET advice to further delay the reopening of pubs.
Padraig Cribben, CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland thinks the government could take a number of actions to combat rising case numbers from social gatherings.
Mr Cribbin believes minimum unit pricing for alcohol is one solution to the house party issue.
"You've got to either bring in the minimum unit pricing that's already on our statute books.
"It's already there, it doesn't need legislation. It only needs a Minister for Health that's lecturing us about various things to actually take action, that's one option," said Mr Cribben.
Mr Cribben also said another option would be for the government to introduce a temporary prohibition on the sale of alcohol while Covid-19 cases are increasing.
Mr Cribben said: "If we are in such a bind if the numbers are increasing at such a rate, what we actually need to do is look at whether we should take a period of three weeks and actually stop the sale of alcohol in off-licenses."
Cork publican Michael O’Donovan has called for off licences to be closed and for the selling of alcohol to be banned in supermarkets.
If the Government was serious about bringing Covid-19 numbers under control, then they needed to take a serious look at where alcohol was purchased for house parties, he told Newstalk’s Pat Kenny show.
“It is not being purchased in licenced premises. A licenced premises is a much more controlled environment. We are one of the most highly regulated industries in this country so we are well capable of following guidelines and we look after our customers.
“If you are in a house party, neither of those things happen.”
Mr O’Donovan said that there had been “very, very few” clusters related to pubs since they started serving food on 29th June.
“There is nothing stopping anyone in a supermarket at the moment going in and buying a trolley-load of drink. If you come into my pub, there is no way I am going to give you a trolley-load of drink and after a certain time, I will get you a taxi.
"You will not consume the same amount of alcohol in my licenced premises or any licenced premises in this country.”
Later on RTÉ radio’s News at One, Mr O’Donovan said that he welcomed new powers for the gardaí, which he had been calling for from the beginning.
Mr O’Donovan called on the Government to support publicans who were not being given a chance to see if their business will still be viable.
With the bank moratorium due to end shortly, that will mean even more difficulties for publicans, he said.
Meanwhile, publicans want the Government to announce a financial package later today - which the Tánaiste pledged.
Around 3,500 pubs that don't serve food were due to open on August 31, however, NPHET has recommended they remain closed.
Two weeks ago Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he would bring forward additional supports at today's Cabinet meeting if the closure orders continue.
Paul Moynihan, from the Vintners Federation of Ireland, said many pubs will close for good if they don't get help urgently.
Mr Moynihan said: "There's no point in talking about small measures here, we need an industrial, big help out from the government.
"Most publicans now are at their end, financially, and even physically and mentally is the problems among them.
"We're facing huge problems. As I said, we'd love an announcement from the government: 'Thank you for helping us out here, we're keeping your industry closed. But here is the help we are going to offer you for the thelp that you've done for the country'."
The Chair of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, Rosemary Garth said now is the crucial point on whether some pubs are able to reopen.
Ms Garth said: "Any further lockdown will be the difference in pubs reopening or not in the long term. Irish pubs are generally small businesses with modest revenues.
"90% of pubs are located outside of Dublin. Irish pubs have endured the longest lockdown in the EU, losing half a year of business.
"The Government has so far failed to provide them with any kind of reassurance, certainty, or long-term support."
Gearoid O’Regan owner of O’Regans pub in Ballyheigue Co. Kerry said its another hammer-blow for publicans not to be allowed reopen.
Mr O'Regan said: "Six months closed, I've spent a lot of time speaking to various TDs, and so on about this whole situation.
"On a human level, you wouldn't put someone out on the streets for six months and not give them anything.
"And to be honest with you that is what has happened to the publicans.
"The decision hasn't been made fully yet, cabinet meets this afternoon, but I'd kind of take it as a given."
Yesterday Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said pubs are to stay shut for at least another two weeks to allow health officials to track the impact of schools reopening has on the spread of Covid-19.
Dr Ronan Glynn urged restraint in what was at times an impassioned appeal during last night’s Covid-19 briefing.
“We simply can't have everything with the pandemic,” he said.
“We can have an education system open. We can protect the most vulnerable. We can have a health system get back up and running, and address all the backlogs that we have. But all the other stuff?
“We want to have sport, we want people to be able to go to pubs, we want people to be able to socialise — but right now is not the moment.”
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