There has been widespread criticism after social media footage shows people not complying with #Covid19 public health guidance at a venue in Dublin.
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The footage, which was filmed at around 4pm in Berlin D2 on Dame Lane, shows a man with a bottle of spirits swinging from the top of a bar and pouring alcohol into the mouths of several people who are dancing below
The person who filmed the footage told RTÉ News that when he arrived at the bar with his wife at around 3pm yesterday, some social distancing measures were being applied, with tables two metres apart and food being served.
But he said when the music got louder "social distancing disappeared" and "the atmosphere started to be crazy" and he said he left because he felt unsafe.
Restaurateur Jay Bourke, who is involved with Berlin D2, has told RTÉ News he is "absolutely mortified" at the scenes recorded at the venue.
However, Mr Bourke said he does not think it is a full reflection of what happened in the venue yesterday, describing it as "20 seconds of madness".
He said he is currently reviewing CCTV footage of the incident but described Berlin as a "very compliant premises".
However, he said he was "not happy" about what appeared to have happened.
Restaurants Association of Ireland CEO Adrian Cummins described the scenes as "deplorable and despicable" and a "slap in the face to front-line workers who are putting their life on the line during this pandemic".
Mr Cummins said gardaí should take immediate action "to stamp out this kind of behaviour".
He said gardaí and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee need to have protocols implemented right around the country where every hospitality business is treated equally and ensuring that every business adheres to the guidelines in a "full and frank" manner.
Asked if there were any complaints about the incident or if gardaí were investigating, the Garda Press Office said it does not comment on individual incidents.
The head of the Licensed Vintners Association has described the scenes as outrageous and appalling and said the business should be shut immediately.
Donal O'Keefe said while the premises in question is not licensed as a pub, he said the behaviour filmed there reflects badly on the hospitality sector.
He also said garda inspections into the compliance with public health guidelines need to be wider than pubs.
RTÉ News spoke to restaurateur Jay Bourke this morning, who confirmed he is involved with the venue.
He said he has not yet seen the video and would make a comment on it when he has.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly responded to the video saying people "are rightly sickened by the scenes".
In a post on Twitter he said "The vast majority of Irish people have sacrificed a huge amount to help suppress this virus. They've shown huge solidarity. The reckless actions of a small few can have huge repercussions on everyone else."
Simon Harris, his predecessor as health minister, described the scenes as "shameful".
Now Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Mr Harris said it was "A right kick in the gut and middle finger to everyone in our country who has worked so hard & sacrificed so much, to everyone who has lost a loved one or been sick with #Covid19, to every frontline worker and to every responsible business owner who have suffered so much."
