Newstalk reporter Barry Whyte has spoken about shooting the video that has raised serious questions over the re-opening of all pubs.
It was captured and tweeted at Dame Lane in Dublin city on Saturday.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has suggested such scenes could delay further re-opening plans, set for July 20th.
Gardai walking around the streets in Dublin City Centre to make sure pubs are not breaking the guidelines on social distancing, serving food or time limits etc
Yet this is allowed on Dame Lane..... pic.twitter.com/4inEgsY2Rm— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) July 4, 2020
Barry told the Hard Shoulder: "We had booked a table at a pub in Dawson Street for 10.00.
"I got off the Luas at Jervis, I was walking towards Dawson Street.
"I have to say on the other end of the river, the Jervis Street area, Temple Bar, it was very very quiet around there.
"But then as I made my way up past Dame Lane I could hear crowds, so I walked over to see what was actually going on.
"And it was a very, very different picture over there - there was literally hundreds of people drinking cans, drinking takeaway pints on the street.
"And there was even a DJ there, so it was a real party atmosphere on the street.
"So I got my phone out and I took a video and I tweeted it, and that's what's kind of created the debate here".
"This was basically a pre-planned party in the street... there was a DJ there, so I don't think you can actually, totally blame publicans for this.
"They had absolutely nothing [to do] with the DJ who was on the street, they never organised that".
"For the most part what I seen, Ivan, was people drinking cans on the street.
"I've spoken to other people who say that this DJ who was playing in the street, people didn't know about that, so that's why people gathered in that area."
"I don't understand the law regarding this as well, because I know firstly if you buy the pint on a premises you must drink it 100 metres away from where you bought it - but obviously that's not happening".
"I always assumed that drinking on the street was illegal, but it actually depends on where you live.
"I contacted the Gardaí in Dublin today and they said there's by-laws - city and county councils actually set the by-laws when it comes to on-street drinking.
Sent a query to Dublin City Council regarding on-street drinking.
They say it is an offence contrary to what some people believe.
On-street drinking Dublin City Centre can result in a €75 on the spot fine
@IvanYatesNT @NewstalkFM pic.twitter.com/bddSUDLibg— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) July 6, 2020
"It's my understanding that being drunk on the street in Dublin isn't allowed, but you can drink if you're doing so responsibly.
"But I think that's where the problem lies".
