Gardaí are set to continue policing pubs this Bank Holiday weekend to ensure Covid-19 rules are being followed.
Twenty-two potential breaches of public health regulations were discovered in pubs across the county last week.
The majority of cases involved pubs where there was no evidence of food being served or consumed and no evidence of receipts to show that food had been sold.
Since the commencement of Operation Navigation on 3rd July 2020, gardaí have found a total of 80 premises in possible breach of the legislation. Files will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in each of these cases.
The rules state that alcohol can only be served alongside a “substantial meal” costing at least €9. Customers can only stay at their table for 1 hour and 45 minutes and there should be no queueing at the bar or socialising away from your table. One person from each party must give their name and contact details to a staff member for contact tracing.
Gardaí say the vast majority of premises are following the new licensing laws and public health regulations.
Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said, “An Garda Síochána is delighted to see a continued high level of compliance by licenced premises to the Public Health Regulations. However there are still a minority of licenced premises that are failing to adhere to the regulations.
“In such circumstances Gardaí will continue its graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent and I would appeal to publicans to comply in all circumstances to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”
The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.3) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 are currently in effect until the 10th August 2020.
