- Vast Majority of Licensed Premises Continue to Comply With Regulations
- 138 checkpoints conducted last weekend in Kildare and surrounding Divisions
Under Operation Navigation, An Garda Síochána has continued to find widespread compliance by licensed premises with the public health regulations.
From 19:00 on Friday, July 3 to 23:59 Sunday, August 23, An Garda Síochána has conducted thousands of checks on licensed premises throughout the country under Operation Navigation to support public health guidelines.
To date, the vast majority of licensed premises operating have been found to be in compliance with regulations and licensing laws.
From Monday, August 17 to Sunday, August 23, 26 potential breach incidents were found by Gardaí. Files will now be prepared for the DPP in each of these cases.
In all these cases, Gardaí found customers consuming alcohol, but no evidence of food also being consumed and no evidence of receipts to show that food had been sold.
The cumulative total of potential breach incidents since Operation Navigation began is now 165.
Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said, "The continued high level of compliance among licensed premises is very welcome. Unfortunately, there are still some that are putting their employees, their customers and their local community at risk of getting COVID-19.
"Customers of such licensed premises also have a responsibility to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 to protect their family, friends and neighbours.
"It is vital that we individually and collectively follow the public health advice and adhere to the public health regulations to reduce the number of people getting COVID-19.”
Operation Fanacht
At midnight on Friday, August 7 2020, following the announcement by An Taoiseach of Certain Temporary Restrictions, in County Kildare, County Laois and County Offaly (Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Relevant Counties) Regulations 2020), An Garda Síochána recommenced Operation Fanacht, a localised proactive policing operation, focused on supporting public compliance with travel restrictions. The amendment of the Temporary Restrictions to cover County Kildare only came into effect on Saturday, August 22 2020.
On Saturday, 22 and Sunday, 23 August 2020 there were a total of 138 checkpoints conducted in Kildare and surrounding Divisions (Meath, Laois/Offaly, Kilkenny/Carlow, and Wicklow). Of these, 77 were in Kildare, the remaining 61 were conducted in the other surrounding Divisions.
Notes to Editors:
All information is provisional, operational and subject to change.
While there were 26 incidents this week, the cumulative total has increased by 27 as an incident from 16 August, which was not included in the numbers for that week, has been added to this week’s numbers.
The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.3) Regulations 2020 set out certain penal provisions. Social distancing and other similar public health guidelines are not penal provisions.
In addition, under liquor licensing laws, a licensed premises requires a declaration of suitability from a member of An Garda Síochána in order for its liquor license to be renewed.
Under Operation Navigation an operational order was issued to all local Garda managers that licensed premises in their area operating at the moment were to be checked for adherence to The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.3) Regulations 2020.
In conducting these visits, An Garda Síochána continued its graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent. This has seen Gardaí engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce.
Where potential breaches of the Public Health Regulations are identified, and where a person does not come into compliance with the regulations, a file is submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a direction as to how to proceed.
A Garda spokesperson is not available.
An Garda Síochána will not be providing a breakdown of these figures by area.
An Garda Síochána will not be commenting on individual licensed premises.
The detail of forthcoming revisions or updates to public health regulations is a matter for the Department of the Health.
