A Limerick TD has warned that some pubs in the county are still open despite the Government’s call for closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Niall Collins is calling on the pub owner to “get real and respect people’s lives.”

He noted that Gardaí currently do not have the powers to do anything about the situation.

As reported in today’s @Limerick_Leader some pubs in my constituency are still operating in defiance of best public health advice. This is an attack on our local community, An Garda Siochana can’t act without powers and I say to these people GET REAL and respect people’s lives.

— Niall Collins (@NiallCollinsTD) March 19, 2020

He told Newstalk that the pub owner’s conduct is “absolutely shocking.”

“The local community are very angry and annoyed at the blatant defiance by both the publicans and the people frequenting these pubs, which is really putting people’s lives at risk,” he said.

“I would call on the publicans and people who are frequenting these pubs to please show some respect for the local community and stop doing this.”

He said “large numbers” of people have been going to the pubs.

“People are appalled; people are scared for their lives obviously with the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“And why people would not follow the best public health advice and close pubs and desist from congregating in groups is beyond belief.

“It is really shocking and staggering and the local community is appalled.”

He said new legislation to be passed today may hand Gardaí the power to step in and close any pub that is still operating.