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ORGANISING AN EVENT in a private dwelling in contravention of the government’s Covid-19 regulations will carry a fine of €500 being imposed.
A new statutory instrument signed by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will see fines coming into effect four weeks after the Bill providing for them became law.
Under the new fixed penalty notices, attending an event in a private dwelling in contravention of regulations can carry a fine of €150.
A person breaching travel regulations can be fined €100, while not wearing a face covering on public transport or in certain retail outlets can carry a fine of €80.
Last month, the prospect of a graduated fines system was first mooted.
The Taoiseach said at the time that the government’s priority was to “work with people to build compliance without having to rely on those measures”.
However, Micheál Martin and the Justice Minister Helen McEntee met with the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris recently to discuss enforcement measures during the pandemic.
In a statement this evening, the Department of Health and Department of Justice said the only enforcement power available previously when people violated regulations under the 1947 Health Act was a ‘Penal Provision’, which carried a maximum penalty of up to €2,500 and/or 6 months in prison, on conviction in court by a judge.
“The Government decided that a more flexible and proportionate system of sanctions was required for offences and breaches of the regulations,” it stated.
The legalisation has five categories of enforcement, as follows:
The Fixed penalty notices are listed below:
A person can pay the fixed payment notice within 28 days to avoid prosecution. But non-payment in the specified time means the person can be prosecuted.
A number of months ago, the government flagged that it wanted gardaí to be given powers to interrupt and prevent house parties.
Gardaí were given additional powers to direct people to leave the vicinity of a dwelling if they have a reasonable suspicion that an event in contravention of regulations is going on.
Gardaí can also direct the occupier to ask people leave, and can require the occupier to provide his or her name.
However, they do not have powers to enter a house or home under these provisions but can attend at the main entrance.
A person who does not comply with a direction the gardaí in relation to an event that is in contravention of the regulation could face a summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or both.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has raised concerns with a move towards increased enforcement throughout the pandemic.
While the ICCL supports the public health effort and accepts that some restrictions on citizens’ rights are necessary, it has called on the government to use these powers in a manner “that complies with Ireland’s human rights legal obligations”.
“This means all decisions made to restrict our rights must be clearly necessary, as minimal as possible to protect public health and taken in a democratically robust manner – with transparency, consultation, and clear communication with the public,” it states.
The government statement says the new regulations will be in place for the duration of the pandemic. It said he gardaí will continue to use police through engagement, educations,encouragement and ”enforcement as a last resort”.
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Will they be giving fines out to the elite of this country, RTE, Judges, Politicians and the rest of the government cronies.
@Jimmy Mac: 1 law for us and another law for THEMSELF
@Joe Steel: No there isn’t. If there isn’t a law it can’t be broken. If the law is in place and then people get away with breaking it, then you can complain.
Has that ship not sailed?
@Darren Mc Mahon: exactly- we now have vaccines so instead of planning to open up we are planning to fine people? Some geniuses!
@John Lyons: Gonna be a long time before large numbers of people here are vaccinated
@Thomas O’ Donnell: you said a vaccine would take years too!
They can Shove their Fines Up their Arses
@Pat Mc Cormack: took the words out of my mouth prior to scrolling to comments!
@Pat Mc Cormack: enjoy Mountjoy.
@Pat Mc Cormack: “Shove the fine” mesning let me guess…you’ll “do what you blee din want!” Mr rebel Paddy…Anti lockdown anti ff fg anti masks anti visors anti hand sanitiser anti 4g anti 5g anti 6g. Did I miss anti thing Pat??? Charming man!
@Gavin Mckenna: Nice tirade. Quite the charmer yourself, Gavin.
@Fergus Lynch: there isn’t enough room in “the joy ” for real criminals, where are they gonna fit everyone ?
@Pat Mc Cormack: hard man
@Gavin Mckenna: Do you ever actually have anything to say? Every comment of yours involves shrieking absolute gibberish from your high horse…
Totally unenforceable. The Gardai have enough to be doing. They are trying to get people to turn against one and another
@Paul Dolan: Turn against one another to what end? What is the benefit of the current government having a restless and fractured populous?
@Ajax Penumbra: Takes the attention off the farcical management of this
@JedBartlett: …but the farcical management of this would be the actual root of the unrest. Hardly a distraction, is it? For someone who has a username—albeit spelled incorrectly— based on one of the best political minds in fiction, you don’t have much of a clue, do you?
@Ajax Penumbra: Good man, Ajax
@Paul Dolan: The Gardai have enough to be doing? Enforcing the law is what they’re supposed to be doing anyway!
I cannot understand how we are allowing all these fines to be brought in. North Korea here I come
@Paul Dolan: another 6 people died today, people aren’t taking this pandemic seriously and aren’t behaving with regards to their fellow man.
@Paul Cunningham: We maybe if they stopped BS’ing about peoples homes and started telling the truth about other factors like some workplaces and schools, or at the very least have the same checks of these places, as many have commentated, that many workplaces and schools are not compliant either.
@Da Dell: tell me exactly what these people died from. They are not reporting deaths accurately. May they all rest in peace.
@Paul Cunningham: Taking this seriously doesn’t just apply to the people. It applies to the hse and Nphet also. Condolences to the families of the 6 people who have died but I’d wager a few of those were in nursing homes where they should have had a better chance of being protected.
When people are finger pointing at other people, it’s easy to overlook Nphets culpability in some of those who have sadly died.
@Paul Cunningham: A lot more than 6 people died today. Some possibly as a direct result of these insane restrictions fueled by hysteria and fearmongering. Where’s the pandemic when we’ve had months of below average excess deaths?
@Paul Cunningham: Along with the other 80 or so who die everyday.
@Paul Cunningham: a lot more than 6 people die everyday. It’s called the circle of life. Why the obsession with Covid deaths?
@Paul Cunningham: people die everyday unfortunately, thats life
The “open up” gang are basically the “Trump 2020” gang without the hats
@JusticeForJoe: The “Lock it down” gang are basically the bed wetting hysterics intent on prolonging the misery perpetuated by their fear, in the guise of some greater good.
I’ll be attending and organising private events throughout the festive season and no amount of government threats will stop me. They can’t issue a fine if you don’t open the door.
@RRJ Whelan: will mammy let you go?
@Fergus Lynch: She’ll be at some of them.
Just another way of fleecing the public can’t get water charges we’ll have mask charge
@nelliekel: Just another way of fleecing the public? So have laws with no penalty for breaking them? Seriously?
Welcome to ireland 2020. Politicians behaving like mafia.
What’s the definitions of “organised” and “event”? What if friends and family just randomly turn up with a bag of cans at my house unannounced and I don’t turn them away. That’s not organised and I wouldn’t constitute it as an event.
@Ajax Penumbra: I suppose something like a Golf Outing or a Retirement do would be organised ..
@Da Dell: or a national funeral
@Margaret Mcgarry: or funerals (plural) Margret was more than one public one with large gatherings from different countries ..
Guards looking into houses on December 25th. “10 people at the dinner for Xmas, that’s another 500 for us”
@Winston Smith: That’s not a dinner it’s a funeral service for the Turkey
Are they going to start checking workplaces and schools for compliance, or are we going to continue to pretend that peoples homes are a major contributor as we have being doing since March. Plenty have mentioned in comments that many many workplaces and schools are not compliant.
Can they actually enforce it this time? I still see no fixed date for this, and it should be done ASAP with some of the carry on around.
@Paul Cunningham: Pretty much a waste of time. Very easy to get around these.
House party? Just don’t answer the door.
Travel? Just on the way to visit a grave.
Job done
@JedBartlett: Masks in shops? Exempt.
@RRJ Whelan: caught having your arm around a person, just say you work on tv
@Paul Cunningham: “carry on”… you mean people living their lives.
I presume the poorly paid staff of rte are exempt
It looks like they’re going to start fining people for exercising their right to assembly enshrined in EU law. I can’t see any of them being enforceable
Better late than never. How selfish can you be to organize a house party!
@Munster1: read the article. Such an event could be a few in for a Christmas drink. Next door neighbour, a sibling and their partners, etc. A house party is different
@Munster1: I don’t know but I’ll find out soon!
Were becoming a Nanny state
@Justin Hanley: becoming? Yearning for it seems to be closer to truth. There’s people today don’t want to cross a road without the government holding their hand
About time.
Just go to the park and drink some cans with your mates instead ..
@Paul Cunningham: hello Paul the people of Ireland have but now the cracks are appearing golfgate rtegate the endless barrage from media about Covid well did Mattie McGrath say it recently in the Dail depression unemployment HSE mess up at the start of the pandemic needless lives dying and all the suicide deaths and not to mention no allowance for views opposing the governments experts no mention of CSO figures of deaths in Ireland we won’t listen to our own doctors who are speaking out Dr De Brun Dr Feely and the others from Covid recovery will we not listen to others maybe our problem is we won’t listen to others a friend of mine would say to me we have tow ears and one mouth pause and think on that and if one has a different view one is branded a conspiracy theorist I recall growing up in Ireland watching Question and Answers political program and it was healthy to have a discussion all these fines to me are threats if we don’t go along with the status quo Lord have mercy on us God Bless
And if your caught all you should have to do is say ‘sorry’
It’s kind of funny and sad at the same time reading all these comments. How will they enforce this? Can they enforce it? Will it work? Etc etc.
It’s sad because it seems only of of these comments is right. That ship has sailed.
We em has these fine (but much more severe) in Australia since May. $1000 for everyone at a pretty and $5000 – $10,000 and or 3 months in prison for hosting.
It happened twice. They got the message. They can enforce, and it works.
@Jonathan Nolan: EU law enshrined the right to assembly in the Lisbon treaty. You may not have it in law in Australia but it is here. Fine people for exercising that right would be contradictory to that law
@Darren Byrne: I think a lot has changed the past year, never mind since 2009. For example. What article in the Lisbon treaty mentions a global pandemic and the best ways to tackle it?
My point being, it seems to be working in Australia. It’s Not working in Ireland. And anyone who thinks it is might want to go back to a broom of a glass in the excuse that is called wet and dry pubs.
@Jonathan Nolan: Maybe if you read the article about the 2 lads with hundreds on convictions, caught while robbing peoples homes, who attacked those people defending their home and the Gardai who came, getting off again with light sentences you’d have a better understanding.
Not many in Ireland believe the BS narrative that has been shoved down our throats since last march anymore, except the FG cult and the brainwashed RTE type masses, that whats happening in peoples homes are a major contributor. Drinking and House Parties have been widespread since last March and we know because these same types have been complaining about it since, but there was no major surges since march through the summer. What we all have seen evidence of though is that a certain sector, like Politicians, Judges and RTE presenters have regularly flaunted the regulations and all they have to do is say sorry, so no I dont agree at all, why cant the ordinary Irish person say sorry and get away with it. I have 2 elderly parents, one with Parkinsons and they dont buy the bs anymore either, they and my family have been in a virtual lock-down since last March and has most we know. But we see in places that are allowed to open like workplaces and schools all flaunting the regulations and they are not being checked. Check all and fine all or dont bother at all.
@Da Dell: why? You continue to keep asking yourself that mate. That’s the issue. Excuses and questions instead of clarity and leadership from everyone. If you can’t see by now that it’s up to everyone to show an example and so the right thing rather than play the game of excuses (he’s not doing it so why should I?) then prepare for a long in and out lockdown. Meanwhile in Australia, we will be having a hassle free and Covid free Christmas. Why? Because we had the right attitude. Quite simple really, Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good
If you choose to believe what you want to be true rather than what is true, it will come back and haunt you. It’s just a question of when, not if.
@Jonathan Nolan: maybe go back and actually read what I said for starters .. my family and me have been in a virtual lockdown since March, we didnt lessen our vigilance even after Leo lead the way twice, 1st on the first lockdown ending and 2nd when he went on TV to give NPHET a telling off for wanting to protect lives .. facts have shown what i believe, not the pr being pushed, evey week is a flip-flop from the Gov and this is another load of baloney to try an appease the social media crowd agian.., maybe keep up with all the news from Ireland instead the FG narrative that the journal spins daily .. I lived in Oz for a few years and have plenty of family and friends still there, I know exactly what has gone on there, and I wouldnt be crowing too early either about it either .. NZ is a far better example ..now put that in your pompus pipe and smoke it.
@Da Dell: not sure where you are getting the notion I am pompous. As for keeping up with Irish news. I emigrated to Oz 20 years ago. ALL my family are still in Ireland and I’m in touch with them daily on SM and weekly with either friends or family on FaceTime or Skype. I don’t read the journal articles that much. To be honest I’m more here for the comments, as I get another rounded view of what the public are thinking and also keep check as to where they my family are just telling me what I want to hear or not. So to my original post, you only have to read other posts on here to see the reason it’s still spreading. Sure, you and your family have done the right thing. I actually never said you didn’t. However to suggest because others aren’t, no one should kind of proves my point
@Jonathan Nolan: Da Dell, I will totally agree with you that everyone has to throw their weight behind doing the right thing. But it’s not about who you work for or your social or media status and apologising, it’s about everyone doing it. It’s about individual attitudes to o attacking this thing back. As you say, NZ were a perfect example of that. And Aus were on the right track and only had 24 cases on the whole country and all in lockdown. Aus showed it only takes 2 lax security guards to spread it to tens of thousands and cause another 800 deaths. But you knew that.
For me, I’m worried about my friends and family in Ireland, and the attitude of “id then can do it we can all do it” isn’t going to get them out of lockdown any time soon. Not that you could call it a lockdown
@Jonathan Nolan: Oh yeah the Journal comments section is the place to see Covid is spreadiing !! I think not .. I left Ireland Oct 9 for Zurich, after my 14 day quarantine was over I was able to enjoy my first pint in a pub since march, all places open here with restrictions and no problems that way, they have had surges as they had expected and warned abput when the schools opened and when more workplaces relaxed restrictions, i like the honesty. and the last line of my original comment to you was “Check all and fine all or dont bother at all.” meaning stop blaming one sector while not even checking others ok
@Jonathan Nolan: You won’t get a rounded view of what the public think on the Journal. You just get the same argument day In day out.
@Jonathan Nolan: Its a lockdown of people in their homes and restrictions on what people can or cannot do in their homes, while workplaces and schools can flaunt the regulations, even some teachers commentating here have said it straight out. we have seen the so called leaders having serious lapses of judgement here but a ‘sorry’ suffices, but blame the people as if its all the peopel. I not saying no to fines, im saying no to just one sector being singled out to be fined .. My brother dosent let his kids near our eldery parents becacuse they are mixing with 1000 to 1500 of kids daily and our small home town is like a ghost town since last March, none of the pubs re-opened, only 2 that were also resturants reopened lately. There was no Covid in the town untill September after schools reopened, we believe the schools have a huge part in this, we not saying to close them, just to stop pretending and acknowledge it.
@Da Dell: I don’t know what all the Afro is about in your comments mate. When you say check all and fine all, can you not see we are singing from the same hum sheet on that regard then?
You are the one who is contradicting yourself.
First you are asking why should you isolate while an RTE presenter goes to parties? Then you say fine everyone. On my way! Of the. Is correct. The fining; because If people can’t afford the fines because of circumstances due to Covid, it will work. Worked in NZ, worked in AU , and look where it got those countries. I’m simply stating fact. If facts to you come across as smug or pompous, you possibly don’t believe the facts. So back again to what I said previously. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good
@Louis Jacob: I don’t obviously come only to the journal. It was more to make the point of articles V comments. I do read other media
@Da Dell: precisely why I’m not calling it a lockdown mate. You haven’t had a lockdown in Ireland yet. Half the people staying at home, kids going to school, pubs and restaurants still open. That’s not a lockdown. Ireland hasn’t actually had a lockdown yet, yet people are still calling it one.
All I see is excuses and questions resulting in dangerous attitudes which will constitute to a grim future where Covid is concerned.
Excuses that you had a lockdown or are in lockdown. Excuses to keep pubs & restaurants open, (wet and dry, give me a break) excuses that the economy is more important than the health of the nation. Remember, a nation is only as strong as its people. Making its people vulnerable for economic stability?! All excuses leading to the inevitable.
@Jonathan Nolan: Firstly I am still working and can only reply when I go outside for a smoke, so I may be replying out of sequence to some of your comments, so sorry if that the case.
I never questioned any isolations, nor said dont do because the RTE presenters didnt.
What you seem to fail to understand here is that the fines mentioned here pertain mostly to activties in a persons home 3 out of the 5 are for that.
What are the fines for breaches in workplaces Public & Private?
What are the fines for breaches in schools ?
What are the fines for breaches in Public Spaces, shops, resturants etc ?
I and the people I know do not believe the activities in peoples homes are the main driver of the surges.
Did you know that if a kid got Covid in a school and transmitted to those in the familly home it was classed as ‘Community Transmission in the Home’ ?
Did you know that up to 3 weeks ago only 2 schools had been checked for Covid regualtions compliance ? ( One teacher blatanly stated here that once the kids leave they acted the same as the RTE presenters and that it was commonplace )
My brother back in Ireland has not let one of his kids go back to a certain school after mid-term as it was just not safe in his opinion, he did let his other 2 in 2 other schools as he felt those were fine.
My workplace in Ireland and here is very very strict, its a pain in the rear tbh, but we just get on with it, but it seems that in Ireland in the Public sector where quite a alot can actuall wfh are flauting the regulations.
I know a lot of Private Sector friends that would would rather wfh are being ‘bullied’ back into the workplace and many think its unsafe, but wont complain, as they still getting a wage when many are not.
Did you know that earlier when Meat Factories where found to be in breach of regulations they got the full support of the State, from the Gardai to the HSE to help them get compliant, while a Pub owner faced loss of his License etc
Most people I know have stopped listening to the contradictory flip-flop information from the Gov and their media lackeys and doing the best they can, trying to do what they can, with social distancing etc etc etc.
@Jonathan Nolan: But your orginal comment on fining people in their homes does not adress the points in your last comment.
But I agree with what you have said there, and its also the reason why this 3 ring circus of a Gov has lost the people also, that coupled with what we are seeing now weekly in their cronyism and any method to not accept responciblity & retain power rather than do things for the good of people of the country.
I knew this llot would be a disaster, for many reasons, the main one in that they would all try to seem to be doing the rightt thing and that their party was the one to do so, while at the same time then sabotage the other partis and make them look bad etc .. I appllied for a transer the day they formed that Gov, at first I was worried I was a little rash, but every week since has confirmed to me it was the right thing to do.
They’ve got to make some of the money they’ve blown on lockdowns this past 9 months back I suppose.
Germany in the 1930s comes to mind.
The more these farcical rules and fines keep mounting the more i get reminded of the film V for Vendetta.
Anything relating to “events” inside a house is practically unenforceable. Also what is their definition of “event”? We’ve really gone mad with these regulations and forced closures of businesses.
Utterly useless for enforcing face masks in shops. The SI does not confer any power on a responsible person to enforce it or question your reasonable excuse for not wearing one, so how can they possibly issue a fine.
@RRJ Whelan: Can’t wear a mask? Wear a visor. Can’t wear a visor? No shops, sorry tough luck! Still adamant in shopping mask and visorless? You get that fine! No sympathy.
@Gavin Mckenna: You obviously don’t understand. You can’t be fined for not wearing a mask in a shop once you say you’re exempt. The law does not require you to prove your exemption or empower anyone to ask you what your exemption is. I haven’t worn a mask since day 1 and a simple ‘I’m exempt’ is all it takes. Do you get it now?
@RRJ Whelan: Why are you refusing to wear a mask in shops?
@Sarah Connor: Because I have a reasonable excuse not to.
@RRJ Whelan: Hmm, Anxiety attacks? That’s the only valid reason I’ve come across. Guessing if you’re IT literate enough to post on the journal, you’d also be able to shop on line. It’s both funny and enfuriating that the people giving out about the extended restrictions, are also the people causing them by refusing to follow simple guidlines.
@Sarah Connor: @Sarah Connor: Hmm, guess again. I’m s
@Sarah Connor: Hmm, guess again. I’m sure you can come up with a few more. That’s how loose the legislation is. There are myriad ‘reasonable excuses’ that exempts the non wearer. And the best thing is you don’t even have to explain what it is.
@RRJ Whelan: Yeah I know, kinda my point. Just because you can say I have a reason isn’t a good reason to do it. If you won’t follow basic advice, don’t complain about the restrictions, you’re contributing to causing them.
@Sarah Connor: If you seriously believe that people not wearing masks are contributing to restrictions then you’ve not been paying attention.
@RRJ Whelan: Attention to what exactly? The vast majority of scientists are advising wearing masks. To be honest if you can’t see you are being part of the problem with that attitude, then there’s not much point continuing this conversation.
Don’t act the maggot, wear masks/visor when needed, don’t have parties or mass gathering of family dos etc…Guess what then happens?
Yip…You don’t get fined or prosecuted! Imagine that!
@Gavin Mckenna: How about this, when this pandemic is over how about we turn our attention to obesity. Before you scoff, remember that obesity dwarfs Covid when it comes to causing death and seeing as you’re such a big fan of fines, how about we allow the government to weigh every citizen once a month. For every pound over some weight they deem acceptable you get fined €5 and so on until you’re fit and healthy.
Seems crazy doesn’t it? Now imagine if somebody told you a year ago that you could be fined €100 for traveling more than 5km from your own home. 5km I may add that has absolutely no science to back it up. Just a random number they pulled out of the air.
I’d think twice before reaching for the chocolate digestives!
Can’t believe there are ao many rule breaking paerties that the governement even makes own laws for them…unbelievable
Will there be fines this weekend for Herman Kelly,, Dolores Cahill, Gemma ó D, John waters, Dolores Webster, Andy heassman, and so on at the protest planned in Dublin. . I doubt it. Yet the rest of us bide by the rules. Last Friday was a disgrace, in the CCJ and nothing done.
One more step towards a curfew, what do you expect from a Government made up from politicians most elected in the final counts in the general election.
About time
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