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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

Questions (507)

Verona Murphy

Question:

507. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of premises in the hospitality sector inspected under the Covid-19 guidelines; the number of premises that were identified to have breached Covid-19 guidelines; the number of the inspected premises that are pending prosecutions for breaching guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31689/20]

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Written answers

I have requested a report from the Garda authorities on the information sought by the Deputy and I will contact her directly when the report is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 507 which was for answer on the 20 October 2020 where you asked for the number of premises in the hospitality sector inspected under the COVID-19 guidelines; the number of premises that were identified to have breached COVID-19 guidelines; the number of the inspected premises that are pending prosecutions for breaching guidelines. As you may recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand.
The requested information has now been provided by An Garda Síochána and accordingly, please note the following.
In order to ensure that the policing of the public health regulations is carried out in an appropriate, proportionate and human rights compliant manner, the Policing Authority were requested to review the policing performance of an Garda Síochána and to provide regular reports to myself as Minister. These reports have been published throughout the pandemic on my Department's website. I am pleased to note that the Authority has consistently found the performance of An Garda Síochána to be of a consistently high standard in supporting the public health guidelines.
I am informed that under Operation Navigation, An Garda Síochána has conducted thousands of checks on licensed premises, and continue to find widespread compliance with the public health guidelines. There is, however, a small cohort of premises that are not complying with the public health measures where enforcement becomes necessary.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that since the commencement of Operation Navigation on 3 July up to and including 10 April 2021 there have been 437 incidents which are being investigated for possible breaches of the health regulations relating to licensed premises.
157 of these incidents have a summons and in 74 of these incidents the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed no proceedings.
The remaining incidents are under investigation, with files being prepared for submission to the Office of DPP where appropriate.
I am advised that all figures provided are taken from PULSE and cover incidents which occurred up to and including 10 April 2021. Please note these figures are operational, and may be liable to change.
I trust this information is of assistance.
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