A total of 6,830 garda checks on pubs countrywide at the weekend found 2,785 premises open for business.

Operation Navigation was instigated to check compliance with public health guidelines.

The garda swoop found 26 pubs in potential breach of health regulations or licensing laws.

Files will now be prepared for the DPP in each of these cases. 

Gardaí found customers consuming alcohol but no evidence of food also being consumed and no evidence of receipts to show that food had been sold. 

Gardaí also observed a lack of adherence to public health advice such as allowing large groups at the one table, little to no social distancing, no advisory signage, and no COVID-19 contact tracing being recorded.

'Concerned'

Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said: "We remain concerned that a minority are potentially operating in breach of the regulations. In doing so, they are putting the health of their customers and staff and everyone they come into contact with after at risk of getting COVID-19. 

"We are sending a clear message to such premises that we will be opposing their liquor license renewal applications in September unless they come into compliance.”