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Gardaí’s enforcement powers to make pubs, restaurants, and other licensed venues comply with Covid-19 restrictions will run until next June.
Helen McEntee, the justice minister, will seek cabinet approval on Tuesday to extend powers as she will inform ministers that under current and previous rules, there were 274 incidents of infringement between July 3 and October 18. .
The extension will be greeted with anger and disappointment from the already beleaguered hospitality industry, but government sources have said the move is necessary as current legislation has a time-out clause.
The extension of the Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) Act (Covid-19) of 2020 gives An Garda Síochána additional enforcement powers to close bars and restaurants that sell alcohol, which do not comply with Covid-19 health regulations .
The law provides for three types of closure orders. Gives:
- Power of attorney for a Garda Superintendent or higher to issue an immediate closure order to close an establishment immediately for the remainder of that day;
- An Garda Síochána’s power to petition the District Court, ex parte, for an emergency closure order when there has been more than one breach of the regulations. That closure can last up to three days;
- power of An Garda Síochána to request a temporary closure order, when there has been a breach of a compliance notice. A first temporary closing order can be up to seven days, and a second temporary or subsequent closing order can be up to 30 days.
The law also includes grounds to object to license renewal.
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