Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
443. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider a campaign, including information at Garda stations and advertising in local media, to notify the public and stakeholders regarding the new Covid regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2952/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Department of Health and the HSE are leading the Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and have primary responsibility for the provision of information to the public about the new public health regulations.
In supporting the public health regulations, the Garda Commissioner and his senior team have implemented a carefully graduated policing response, based on its strong tradition of policing by consent. Garda members engage, explain and encourage members of the public to comply and, only as a last resort, make use of their enforcement powers under these regulations.
An Garda Síochána have kept the public informed about their enforcement of the new regulations through regular press releases, updates to the media, information on their website, and most importantly through the actions of Garda members on the ground every day explaining the regulations to the public and encouraging compliance. An Garda Síochána have given regular updates about the Health Regulations and the different Garda operations such as Navigation, Fanacht and Faoiseamh that are in force during the pandemic.
Important and useful information is also available and regularly updated on the Government website gov.ie regarding the ongoing restrictions to combat COVID-19, the new Health Regulations and other important public health information.
The publication of information on gov.ie is matter for the Department of An Taoiseach, and the provision of information on the Health Regulations is for my colleague the Minister for Health and his Department.
