On-site fines of up to € 100 will be introduced for people who violate public health regulations

The government will introduce on-site fines of up to 100 euros for people who violate public health regulations, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has revealed.

Minister Donnelly said he will introduce legislation shortly and that this would include fines for people who do not cover their faces.

He said: “I will present legislation shortly that will add a table of penalties to the Health Act of 1947, which will essentially allow for more appropriate measures, for example a fine of € 20, € 50 or € 100.

“We would be looking for, for example, the breach of face covers, for example, having fines, is what other countries do.

“The current powers in Ireland, the 1947 Act, is difficult to handle in this case.

“We will seek to incorporate a new penalty program, including for other compliance measures.”

Minister Donnelly said the penalties available under the Health Act, including a large fine or imprisonment for not wearing a face covering, are too severe.

He said the powers that the gardai now have under existing legislation should be sufficient to deal with house parties.

He told Newstalk: “The flip side is that it means that the enforcement powers are less … there will be no sanctions linked to house parties, however the gardai have done a very good job and most can be encouraged of the persons to comply and the gardai has other powers, powers of public order and others, which can be used when appropriate. “

But Labor leader Alan Kelly said he would not support the legislation and that it was “draconian action”.

He said this is the second time Minister Donnelly is “testing the water” after it was discussed that gardai could enter houses to break house parties.

Kelly said: “I think we would like to be very careful to go down that path.

“A situation that you would go to on the spot with fines in the near future is something that I would not be in a position to support.

“I would only be careful to take the step of potentially looking like a draconian state, I don’t think that’s something the public would appreciate.

“I am concerned about Minister Donnelly’s line of thought regarding several of these issues.”