Kerry Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has said that the anti-social behaviour in Killarney on Saturday night could be used to persuade the Government to open all public houses.
Footage of a large and raucous group of people drinking and singing on the street and not observing social distancing on Main Street was captured on video and has been widely shared on social media.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Healy-Rae described the events as "most unfortunate", but said "if our public houses are open, people will get alcohol in a measured and sensible way by responsible people who have to go before our courts every 12 months, who run what I would call respectable public houses".
Mr Healy-Rae said while he adheres to the public health advice, he does not have to "blindly agree" with it.
He said it does not mean "that they're 100% right in everything they say".
He said people cannot explain the difference between what is called a wet public house and a public house that serves food.
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Killarney mayor condemns 'disgraceful' party scenes
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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has released a statement saying it is very disappointed over the incident.
"An overwhelming majority of people in Killarney and businesses in the town have adhered to public health guidelines and restrictions introduced by the Government and Health Service Executive during the course of the pandemic.
"It is disappointing that some people see fit to act irresponsibly with little or no respect for others," the statement from the chamber's president Paul Sherry said.
Yesterday the Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Brendan Cronin, described such scenes as "disgraceful" and asked gardaí to take a firmer approach.
"In a time when we cannot go to watch a football match, when weddings are being postponed along with other family occasions, the behaviour seen in our town last night was nothing short of showing two fingers to all those who have put in huge time and effort to make Killarney safe," he said.
The former Kerry footballer and teacher Tomas Ó Sé described the scenes in Killarney as a "fingers up" to everyone else who is actually toeing the line.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Ó Sé said the social media images from Killarney made him angry, considering the time and effort that has gone into getting children back to school.
He said as a teacher, he does not want a situation where they have to teach from home and that the social aspect of school was gone from children's lives.
He said it is not just young people who want to "blow off steam", lots of other people want to do that too, and they are trying to find their own way of doing that.
Intensive Care Specialist Dr Catherine Motherway said there is a need to work with youth leaders to organise how young people can meet safely, to stay socially connected and remain physically distant in all aspects of their lives.
Dr Motherway told Today with Claire Byrne that it has been a very difficult time for young people, many of whom have lost jobs in the tourism industry, and they have been really badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said the older generation is very clear about what they will experience if they get the coronavirus, but she said it is not as clear to younger people that they too can get quite ill and that they can transmit it.
