Inspectors could be given power to shut down businesses for breaching social distancing regulations under new plans being drawn up by Government.

The proposals would give the Health and Safety Authority inspection and enforcement powers once the current restrictions are eased.

Inspectors would ensure all businesses and staff are following a new set of guidelines, currently being drawn up by the Department of Business, the HSE, the Department of Health and the HSA.

In a statement, the department said it was engaging with businesses and unions on the new guidelines.

“The HSA will be available to support and advise businesses and workers on implementation of the guidelines,” it said.

“It is also expected that they will have responsibility for both inspections and enforcement.

“The guidelines are currently being finalised and will be published in due course.”

File photo of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, CEO, Adrian Cummins, 27-09-2017. Image: RuthlessImagery/RollingNews

This morning, the Restaurants Association of Ireland CEO Adrian Cummins told Newstalk that many of its members will need supports to make it economically viable to put social distancing measures in place.

“If you were, as a restaurant owner, to implement social distancing, in its current format as it is being proposed, financially it is not viable to open your doors,” he said.

“What we need in parallel to it is a financial package that makes it economically viable to implement social distancing in a small restaurant and give the confidence to consumers that it is safe to dine out in any restaurant in Ireland.”

He said the Government needs to launch a nationwide campaign to reassure customers that it is “right and easy and safe to go and eat in a restaurant.”

“To go out and about in their daily lives, adhering to social distancing,” he said.

“We are in a new norm at the moment and everybody needs to adapt to this – businesses need to adapt and also consumers need to adapt.

“But what we need is confidence in the market that people will return to restaurants, return to business and that is where we need assistance from the Government through a nationwide advertising campaign.”

Meanwhile, On Breakfast Briefing with Andrea Gilligan this morning Dr Anthony Staines, Professor of Health Systems at the School of Nursing in DCU, said an inspection process has to be part of the new normal.

“I think the message we all need to really absorb is that this virus is probably not going away,” he said. “It is going to be part of our lives for the foreseeable future.”

“I hope I am wrong and I might be wrong but if it is, we are going to have to change a lot of the stuff we do and part of that is giving the HSA the authority to ensure that social distancing happens at work.”

The Taoiseach is expected to announce a road-map for the relaxation of restrictions after Cabinet meets this afternoon.

Speculation during the week suggested the plan will aim for the reopening of cafés, restaurants and shop in mid-summer.

A survey of Dublin pubs released yesterday found that the vast majority are opposed to any plan that would allow restaurants to open while they stay shut.

With reporting from Kacey O'Riordan