Inspectors probe pubs and restaurants to ensure staff aren't claiming PUP 

Principal officer in the Department of Social Protection's Special Investigation Unit (SIU) had been asked to 'conduct a small number of inspections on open pubs, cafes and restaurants in the coming days to ensure that employees have signed off any SW payment – including PUP'.

The Department of Social Protection was asked to conduct site visits of hospitality businesses on Christmas week to ensure staff had signed off the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

An internal email, seen by the Irish Examiner and dated December 16, details that the principal officer in the department's Special Investigation Unit (SIU) had been asked to "conduct a small number of inspections on open pubs, cafes and restaurants in the coming days to ensure that employees have signed off any SW payment – including PUP".