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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 February 2021

Thursday, 4 February 2021

Questions (186, 187)

Martin Kenny

Question:

186. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons issued fines or fixed notice penalties for non-essential travel, organising or attending a house party, travelling to or from a party or to a neighbours house, traveling outside the 5km limit for exercise, travelling to and from the airport to take a holiday abroad and taking a non-essential journey to or from an airport in January 2021, by Garda division, week and fine type in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6255/21]

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Martin Kenny

Question:

187. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons issued a fine or fixed penalty notice for non-wearing of face masks for January 2021, by Garda division and week in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6256/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.

I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but it was unfortunately not possible to compile it in the time available.

I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested, when it is available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Questions 186 and 187 which were for answer on 4 February 2021, where you requested: “the number of persons issued fines or fixed notice penalties for non-essential travel, organising or attending a house party, travelling to or from a party or to a neighbours house, traveling outside the 5km limit for exercise, travelling to and from the airport to take a holiday abroad and taking a non-essential journey to or from an airport in January 2021, by Garda division, week and fine type in tabular form” and, “the number of persons issued a fine or fixed penalty notice for non-wearing of face masks for January 2021, by Garda division and week in tabular form;” As you may recall, some of the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand. Further information has now been provided by An Garda Síochána.
As you will be aware, responsibility for policing the current Public Health regulations rests with the Garda Commissioner. Further, responsibility for the legislation underpinning the Public Health response lies with my colleague, the Minister for Health.
An Garda Síochána continue to use the 'Four E's' approach in line with their strong tradition of community policing and policing by consent. This sees Garda members Engage with, Encourage and Educate members of the public on public health advice and regulations, with Enforcement used only as a last resort.
The Health (Amendment) Act 2020, which amended the Health Act 1947, was signed into law by the President on 25 October 2020. Regulations providing for a new system of fines under the Act were subsequently signed by the Minister for Health on 21 November 2020. The Act allows for a system of fixed penalty notices for those found in breach of those COVID-19 regulations which have been designated as penal provisions. It also allows for a speedier system of fines, without the requirement for the person to be brought before the Courts and prosecuted, up to a maximum of €500 and a person has 28 days to pay the fine after it is issued.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that information sought by the Deputy is updated regularly and published on the Garda website and can be accessed through the following link:
https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/coronavirus-covid-19-.html
For the Deputy’s information the attached table is available from the above link and provides relevant statistics as at 15 April 2021.

Fine Type

2020

2021

Total

Jan

Feb

March

April [1]

Leaving Home without a reasonable excuse (€100)

20

3853

5147

4387

1243

14650

International Travel, Airports and Ports(€500)

376

671

139

1186

Persons not ordinarily resident travelling into the State(€100)

110

240

57

407

Event Organisers (Dwelling and non-Dwelling)(€500)

5

102

302

318

76

803

Attending Events(€150)

458

1010

1112

275

2855

Non wearing of face coverings(€80)

18

87

113

113

10

341

Total

43

4500

7058

6841

1800

20242

I trust this information is of assistance.
[1] As at 15 April 2021
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