Lawyers for Press Up group, which employs 1,800 people across five hotels, 12 bars, 27 restaurants and two cinemas have written to Government concerning the matter, according to the Irish Times.
The group, which owns venues such as the Stella Theatre, the Dean Hotel and the Workman’s Club, has said there is “no empirical, objective and verifiable evidence” to support the closures of pubs and restaurants in the capital.
It comes as Level Three restrictions currently in place in the Dublin region limit businesses serving food to outdoor dining only, while “wet” pubs remain shuttered.
The group said it “will be left with no alternative; but to issue proceedings in respect of the laws bearing on operation of their premises as a last resort” if current restrictions are extended beyond October 10th.
Decision day
The group, controlled by businessman Paddy McKillen jnr, has given the Government until Tuesday to issue a decision before issuing proceedings that the restrictions are unconstitutional.
The warning letter has been sent to the Ministers for Health, Justice and Finance, the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.
The group’s solicitors stated that it had not been notified by the HSE of any outbreak of the virus at any of its premises, and called on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to publish evidence to justify the restrictions.
The letter also claimed that Mr Donnelly had “unlawfully delegated or otherwise abdicated responsibility to third parties in particular members of the National Public Health Emergency Team.”
The Press Up group said it had incurred very significant financial losses since the initial lockdown in March and it had obligations to suppliers, lenders, landlords, employees and Revenue.
