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A system of graduated fines should be considered, which could include € 50 fines for not wearing masks and € 200 fines for leaving your county, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said last night at his party.
Sources present at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting said Varadkar told MPs and senators that the previous system of 2,500 euros fines for those who violate Covid-19 regulations was considered draconian.
A better system of graduated fines should be considered, he said, including fines of 50 euros for those who do not wear masks or fines of 200 euros for those who violate travel restrictions.
It is understood that Mr. Varadkar spoke out against allowing gardaí or public officials to enter people’s homes and said that a court order would be needed to do so.
Meanwhile, Medical Director Tony Holohan met with one of the country’s top officials on Tuesday to discuss ongoing disputes between the government and the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).
Sources said Mr. Holohan met with Taoiseach Department Secretary General Martin Fraser on Tuesday afternoon.
Several government spokesmen said Tuesday that they did not know who Mr. Holohan was meeting in government buildings.
But sources confirmed early Wednesday morning that the meeting took place as all parties seek to soften the recent controversy over calls to move the country immediately to Level 5 restrictions.
A government spokesman said that while all options are being reviewed, there are currently no plans for a new penalty system.
“The law already provides fines of € 2,500 for non-compliance with certain laws such as organizing a meeting or not wearing a mask on public transport.
“All options are under review, but at the moment there are no plans for a new system of fines.”
Sources said the parliamentary party heard that the Gardaí prefers consent surveillance rather than a criminal approach, and that the government will be guided by the Garda commissioner in this regard.
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