Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
606. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he plans to provide additional powers to An Garda Síochána to prevent persons travelling to airports for the purpose of going abroad for non-essential reasons such as holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5318/21]
View answer701. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he plans to impose restrictions on movements by persons from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5324/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 701 together.
The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 29 of 2021) along with S.I. No. 30 of 2021 (Fixed Penalty Notice Regulations) came into operation on Monday, 1 February 2021.
These Regulations provide for the extension of the current public health restrictions to 5 March 2021. They also provide that a person whose place of residence is outside the State may not travel in the State without reasonable excuse. A non-exhaustive list of reasonable excuses applies for the purposes of this provision. It is a penal provision and a fixed penalty notice (€100) provision. In addition, the Regulations provide that a person whose place of residence is in the State shall not leave it to go to an airport or port for the purposes of leaving the State without reasonable excuse. This is a penal provision and a fixed penalty notice (€500) provision.
