Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
1247. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce legislation to make the wearing of face coverings on public transport obligatory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15634/20]
View answerOn 10 July 2020, I signed the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings on Public Transport) Regulations 2020 which provide for the wearing of face coverings on public transport. With effect from 13 July 2020, members of the public shall not, without reasonable excuse, travel by public transport without wearing a face covering.
Reasonable excuse includes where a person:
(1) cannot put one on, wear or remove a face covering because of any physical or mental illness, impairment or disability or without severe distress
(2) needs to communicate with another person who has difficulties communicating
(3) removes the face covering to provide emergency assistance or to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person
(4) removes the face covering to take medication.
The Regulations do not apply to children under the age of 13.
Where a passenger is not wearing a face covering, a relevant person under the Regulations may request the passenger to wear a face covering, refuse the passenger entry to the public transport vehicle, or may request the passenger to alight from the vehicle. A passenger must comply with a request to wear a face covering, a request to alight from a public transport vehicle or a refusal of entry. Failure to comply with a request to wear a face covering, a request to alight or refusal of entry is an offence.
Before exercising powers to request a passenger to wear a face covering, refuse entry to a public transport vehicle or request a passenger to alight from a public transport vehicle, a relevant person must give the passenger an opportunity to provide reasonable excuse and may request the passenger to provide information as the relevant person considers necessary to determine whether or not the passenger has reasonable excuse. The onus is on the passenger to establish to the satisfaction of the relevant person, that he or she has reasonable excuse.
