Michael Healy-Rae has said rural pubs should be allowed reopen - with the Kerry TD suggesting there's "an awful difference between Dame Lane and Ballinskelligs".
Yesterday the Government announced phase four of the reopening plan will not be going ahead next week as previously planned, amid concerns over increases in COVID-19 cases.
It means pubs which don't serve food will not be able to reopen until at least August 10th.
Speaking in the Dáil today, Deputy Healy-Rae said there's a difference between urban and rural pubs.
He suggested the rug has been "pulled from underneath" publicans who had been planning to reopen, and publicans are "extremely angry" at how they've been treated.
He insisted that the re-opening of pubs absolutely wouldn't have increased the spread of the coronavirus, and that publicans are responsible people.
Deputy Healy-Rae argued: "We've always said that the Irish pubs are unique - our country pubs are unique. They're catering for smaller groups of people, and they know their customers.
"All they wanted to do was open up in a small way that the local people could come in from the countryside and have a drink.
"You must remember there's an awful difference between Dame Lane and Ballinskelligs, or between Dame Lane and Portmagee."
Dame Lane in Dublin city centre became a focus of attention and concern about mass gatherings after a video showed a large number of people gathered in the area on a Saturday night two weeks ago.
Deputy Healy-Rae also asked what the difference is medically between a man with a pint in his hand in one pub, and a man holding a pint and a toasted sandwich in another.
Responding to the Kerry TD, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said there's a difference between restaurants and pubs which "concentrate more on selling alcohol" and those which focus on serving meals.
He acknowledged that the delay is a "hammer blow" for the owners of pubs and nightclubs who had been planning to reopen next week.
Mr Varadkar said: "I don't think I'm the only person in this House who was looking forward to freedom pints next week, but unfortunately that isn't possible.
"It isn't possible for a good reason, and that reason is that the incidence of the virus has increased.
"It's still very low... but the trajectory was a matter of concern. It was going in the wrong direction. That has largely not been due to international travel, due to all the focus on it - it's been 90% due to our own behaviours."
He said that the Dame Lane crowds "shouldn't have happened", but that it's in indoor and confined spaces - such as small pubs and house parties - that allow the virus to spread more easily.
