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Denying entry to a garda attempting to inspect a pub to verify that it complies with Covid-19 regulations will result in a fine of up to € 2,500 upon conviction, according to new laws released by the government on Tuesday.
The bill, which will be debated by Dáil on Wednesday, spells out broad powers for the gardaí to inspect licensed premises such as pubs and restaurants to verify their compliance with public health standards.
It grants members of the force powers to issue immediate closure orders in premises that do not comply with a closure order, and exposes anyone who refuses to comply with such order to a similar fine and up to six months in prison, if is found guilty.
Immediate closing orders will initially apply only for the day the order is issued, including any period after midnight that a location is allowed to open. However, the legislation establishes that emergency shutdown orders served for failing to comply with more than one address of the garda will apply for up to three days.
Closing orders
The longer closing period can only be imposed after a request to the District Court by a superintendent of Garda rank or higher. A garda of such rank also has to approve an initial immediate closure order, but can do so without going to court.
The legislation also gives the gardaí powers to petition the District Court for a temporary closure order if a premises does not obey a compliance notice issued in conjunction with the immediate closure order.
Such an order carries stricter penalties, including closing a pub or restaurant for up to seven days for a first offense and up to 30 days for a second offense. Publicans who reopen their facilities during a forced closure could face a fine of 5,000 euros or a year in jail. The legislation has a time limit until November 9 this year.
Opening protocols
Elsewhere, winegrower groups have written to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and acting medical director Dr. Ronan Glynn to request a meeting on the protocols for the reopening of the pubs.
After a cabinet meeting last week, Mr. Varadkar said the government intended to work with the state’s public health team to draft protocols that could allow the pubs to reopen.
Donall O’Keeffe, executive director of the Licensed Vintners Association, said he wanted the meeting to discuss the protocols mentioned by the Tánaiste. “What do you mean by that, what conditions must be met to allow pubs to reopen and when do you see those conditions met.”
He said Dr. Glynn “must help us understand the conditions that must be met in order for pubs to reopen.”
Pádraig Cribben, executive director of the Irish Vintners Federation, said he wanted an explanation as to why pubs across Europe were reopening while Irish venues were closed.
“It is the same science across Europe, but we are interpreting it differently when it comes to pubs,” he said.
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