New powers for gardaì to enforce social distancing

NEW regulations are being put in place giving gardaí powers to enforce social distancing measures.

Until now, gardaí have been powerless to deal with people who do not comply with regulations.

Health Minister Simon Harris told Primetime on RTÈ One he is poised to sign regulations which will give gardaí the powers to enforce Covid-19 distancing measures.

Gardaí have been carrying out hundreds of checkpoints and found that the vast majority of the public have been complying with the government’s recommendations made in mid-March relating to social distancing. 

However, gardaí were effectively powerless to deal with cases where people did not comply with regulations.

The new regulations mean that gardaí will now be able to arrest those who do not abide by Covid-19 restrictions, including those who exercise more than 2km away from their homes or people who travel for non-essential purposes.

Those who are convicted face a maximum of six months in prison and a fine of €2,500