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The Garda has a wide range of enforcement measures open, as Dublin now moves to Level 3 restrictions under the Government’s Living with Covid-19 plan, while the rest of the country remains at Level 2.
Although the application in this sense is mainly applied to event organizers and companies, part of it relates to ordinary citizens, who may face criminal proceedings, with fines and prison sentences as possible penalties in case of conviction, for certain infractions.
However, there is ambiguity regarding certain measures imposed to address the coronavirus pandemic and several of the Living with Covid-19 regulations have “council” status and rely heavily on the goodwill of the public for compliance.
On Saturday, the Garda said it was increasing its presence across Dublin to ensure compliance with public health measures.
Operation Fanacht will see a high level of Gardaí visibility on foot, in cars and by bicycle to promote social distancing and dissolve large gatherings in public spaces. Garda checkpoints will also be established throughout the county.
A Garda spokesman said the force would continue to adopt “a graduated police response based on its tradition of consent policing.”
Visitors to homes
The number of visitors allowed into an individual’s home and the number of households those visitors may come from varies from tier to tier in the government’s five tier Living with Covid-19 plan.
In Dublin, under Level 3, a maximum of six people from a single household can visit another household. The government is asking people to follow this advice, but it is not applied directly or penalized for not following it.
Meetings
The numbers allowed at gatherings, including social gatherings or parties, in a person’s home or elsewhere, vary from level to level and depending on the nature of the gathering.
There are no enforcement measures for gatherings in a person’s home, although the government was considering the application of a civil law, with an economic sanction but no criminal conviction.
Anyone who organizes a gathering outside of a home who does not comply with the maximum number allowed at such gatherings is subject to the application of the law and could be fined up to 2,500 euros or imprisoned for up to six months if convicted. It is not a crime to attend a meeting of this type, but it is a crime to host or organize one.
Wedding
The number of guests allowed at a wedding ranges from 100, excluding staff and other essential personnel, at Level 1 to six people at Level 4 or Level 5.
These provisions do not apply, which means they are for advice only and people are asked to comply with them. However, Garda sources said that depending on the scale of a wedding, or if the same people were continually facilitating or organizing weddings that broke the advice, it was possible that a manager or owner of a hotel or other form of venue could be prosecuted. for “organizing an event.” The same sources said, however, that this has not yet been proven.
Indoor events
In Level 1, up to 100 people can attend an indoor event, although this is reduced in other levels, indoor events are not allowed in Levels 3, 4 or 5. The numbers allowed in indoor events also change depending the type of event, where it is being held and how big the venue is, with a large number of possible permutations.
These measures for indoor events, where they are still allowed, are enforceable and any “event” organizer who violates the limits can be prosecuted and face fines of up to € 2,500 and jail time for up to six months.
Sports accessories
The number of people allowed at sporting events varies depending on the size of the venue and whether the event is taking place indoors or outdoors, and it also varies between different levels of the Living with Covid-19 plan.
Restrictions on sporting events are advisory only, without application. People are asked to adhere to the number restrictions at sporting events, but breaching these restrictions is not a crime and there is no penalty.
Bars, restaurants, cafes
For bars and restaurants that sell alcohol, there are a number of restrictions and conditions and most of them apply. Only pubs that sell food can currently open and must sell customers a meal worth at least € 9. Next Monday the so-called wet pubs will be allowed to reopen in all counties except Dublin.
Bars and restaurants that sell alcohol are also required to keep customer contact details, in case contacts need to be traced, and are also faced with a ban on earlier “drinking” hours and closing hours. normal.
Gardaí is inspecting these locations and any breach of the conditions may result in the immediate closure of a business for the remainder of that day. Gardaí can request other closure orders for premises that do not give up breaking the rules, and these can range from three to 30 days.
In the longer term, gardaí could also oppose the renewal of a liquor license for such premises.
Businesses like cafes could also face shutdown periods if they violate coronavirus regulations, such as not keeping their customers’ contact details for a 28-day period.
National trips
Even before Dublin moved to Level 3, people living in the county were asked not to travel outside the region unless they had to travel for work, education and childcare. That advice remains the same now that the move to level 3 is confirmed.
People living outside of Dublin are asked not to travel to the county unless they need to do so for essential reasons. However, these measures are advisory rather than required by law.
Business and services
People who visit retail establishments where products are sold, other companies and some other similar places are required, by law, to wear a face cover unless they are under the age of 13 or have a physical or mental health problem that means that they do not they can wear a face covering. This is a criminal provision and is enforceable by law, to the point of being charged with a crime and convicted.
The businesses in question include shopping malls, libraries, cinemas and movie theaters complexes, theaters, concert halls, bingo halls, museums, and anywhere products are sold to customers. Under Level 3 restrictions in Dublin, many of these locations will close.
Service business customers should also wear masks, including those offering cosmetic nail care or nail styling, hair care or hair styling, or tattoo and piercing services, as well as travel agents and tour operators, laundries and dry cleaners.
Public transport
Face shields must now be worn on public transportation, unless the passenger is under the age of 13 or has a physical or mental health reason that means they cannot wear a mask. If a person is not wearing a mask, they may be asked to get off the bus, train or tram they are on. If they refuse to do so, gardaí can be called and criminal proceedings can be started which may result in a criminal conviction.
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