People hosting house parties this weekend could face a hefty fine

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People hosting house parties in violation of Covid-19 regulations could face fines of up to € 2,500 after the new legislation went into effect this weekend. The public faces fines of up to € 500 for violating the 5km travel limit introduced as part of the lockdown measures.

Those who organize parties or gatherings at home could face a fine of up to € 1,000 in the first instance.

Second and third offenders can face prison terms and fines of up to 2,500 euros.

Legislation supporting the use of fines for violations of the restrictions passed at Dail and Seanad on Friday.

The law regarding house parties takes effect this weekend, but notices of flat fines will be introduced next week.

There will be more than 2,500 uniformed gardai on duty each day during the six-week shutdown unveiled Thursday.

The fines were introduced in an attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19 among households.

Statistics released by Ireland’s Central Statistical Office (CSO) on Friday show that outbreaks in private homes account for 54% of outbreak-related cases in the past four weeks.

Members of An Garda Siochana conduct random vehicle checks in the town of Muff, County Donegal, on the border with Northern Ireland (PA)

The country’s incident rate exceeded 300 per 100,000 population for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

On Friday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris expressed reservations about the use of fines to enforce Covid-19 restrictions.

Harris declined to say he supports the sanctions.

“I’ll do what they tell me,” he said.

He said that enforcement measures would only be used as a “last resort”.

When asked if he supported the measures, he replied: “The good news is that the law supports this. I am a public servant, a good and faithful servant at that, and I will do what they tell me.

“We have fines, but they are established in a sphere of application. We have to discern what our policy and practice is regarding that application.

“But we have already established it. The app is our last resort. Therefore, use of the flat fee penalty notice, or a report to the DPP, is a last resort for us in all cases. “

Seven other Covid-19-related deaths and 777 new cases of the virus were reported in Ireland on Friday.



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