The Taoiseach must meet with the owner of the Silk Road Café to discuss how this situation arose and to ensure something like this never happens again, according to Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes.
Deputy Hayes said:
“I raised the Silk Road Cafe, which remains closed after being forced to abruptly shut, with the Taoiseach today, asking him to meet with owner Abraham Phelan and manager Rikke Sorensen, who I invited to the public gallery.
“Micheál Martin declined my invitation to meet with Mr Phelan and Ms Sorensen, which is unfortunate, though he stated that he believes no business should have been put at a loss as a result of the EU Presidency.
“The Silk Road Café had been operating in the Chester Beatty for 25 years and was abruptly closed to the public on Sunday as a result of security restrictions at Dublin Castle this past weekend.
“An injunction gave Mr Phelan and his staff access to the premises, but given no public access is available, the cafe cannot operate. It is not acceptable that this small business, which has traded for so long, has effectively been closed by the government with no prior warning or discussion.
“It has never been explained by anyone in Government why this cafe needs to close for the duration of Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency. This is outrageous.
“The Taoiseach should meet with Mr Phelan as soon as possible to hear first hand the hugely negative impact this abrupt closure has had on him and his staff.”
June 17th, 2026