IN PREPARATION of Ireland's move to Level Five of the Government's 'Living With Covid Plan', it was announced that gardaí would be granted new powers to enforce the rules.
On Monday, along with the announcement that Level Five would last for six-weeks, a new fine system was proposed, giving gives garda members the ability to hand out on-the-spot penalties for anyone found to be in breach of the new restrictions.
A number of people have spoken out against the fine system however, including the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and even the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).
Executive Director of the ICCL Liam Herrick branded the fine system "a mistake," stressing that it won't work.
Gardai are be granted new powers to hand out on-the-spot fines for anyone breaching Level Five restrictionsSpeaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Herrick said that a similar system was set up in the UK, and was "a complete failure".
"They are really focusing on punishing people as the first primary response," he said.
"We need to be very cautious that we don’t let the gardaí [become] involved in people's private lives and we don't jeopardise the longer term relationship between the community and the police.
"If we're getting down to criminalising people's behaviour around so-called house parties, we still face some of the same constitutional and other problems we’ve had up to now," he added.
"An unworkable law can cause damage. It's coming out that it’s going to be an offence for someone suspected of being on their way to a house party."
Fines of up to €1,000 could be handed outThe AGSI expressed similar concerns on Tuesday evening.
"We remain concerned about the practicalities of issuing on-the-spot fines in relation to house parties and other matters," said AGSI General Secretary Antoinette Cunningham.
It's understood that fines of €1,000 could be given for the owners of houses, or tenants living in houses where house parties are held.
There will also be fines of up to €500 for other breaches of the Covid-19 restrictions, including failing to wear a face mask in specific settings, and engaging in illegal social gatherings both indoors and outdoors.
