Publicans are calling for a temporary ban on the sale of alcohol in off-licences to allow them to reopen while cracking down on house-parties.

It comes after the National Public Health Emergency Team again called for pubs that don’t serve food to remain closed for the coming weeks.

Meanwhile Cabinet will consider handing Gardaí new powers to shut down pubs that breach public health guidelines.

Inside the 'Gravediggers' pub beside Glasnevin cemetery, Dublin, 10-04-2014. Image: Brian Lawless/PA Archive/PA Images

On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, Cork Publican Michael O'Donovan says off-licences should be closed and supermarkets banned from selling alcohol.

“House parties have been an ongoing concern since the very start of this pandemic,” he said.

“If the Government are really serious about bringing these numbers under control and getting them down, they need to take a serious look at where the alcohol is purchased for these house parties.

“It is not being purchased in licenced premises. A licenced premises is a much more controlled environment.

“We are one of the most highly regulated industries in this country so we are well capable of following guidelines and we look after our customers.

“If you are in a house party, neither of those things happen.”

The new laws will make it an offence for anyone to organise or attends a house gathering.

Health officials last night said it was monitoring 393 clusters of the virus around the country – 252 of which are related to private homes.

Mr O’Donovan said there have been “very, very few” clusters related to pubs since those that serve food opened on June 29th.

“There is nothing stopping anyone in a supermarket at the moment going in and buying a trolley-load of drink,” he said.

“If you come into my pub, there is no way I am going to give you a trolley-load of drink and after a certain time, I will get you a taxi. You will not consume the same amount of alcohol in my licenced premises or any licenced premises in this country.”

He said there are people having large groups in houses around the country and if the government wants to “get serious” about tackling the issue a ban on off-sales is a “proposal they will have to consider.”

“I like a glass of wine myself; I like going to the supermarket and buying a bottle of wine but for the greater good; for two or three weeks, whatever it might take, this might be one of the requirements that is needed to get this virus under control and get our numbers down.”

He said he was not surprised to hear the acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn call for reopening to be delayed again; however, he said it was very concerning to hear him suggest they may not be back for several more weeks.

“At least this time we saw the numbers creeping up and we didn’t order stock in the last couple of days,” he said.

“But still, it is of no consequence today to be told that we are not opening on Monday and the more concerning part is we just don’t know when it is going to happen.”