Over 17,000 fines for travel rule breaches
THE Government has consistently stressed the level of unity involved in the country’s response to the pandemic.
But while we were mostly in it together, figures secured by Fine Gael’s John Paul Phelan reveal that 17,226 fines were issued for breaches of the various pandemic rules on travel.
The numbers emerged in response to a query by Mr Phelan to Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys on the number of fines that have been issued for non-essential travel by county in tabular form.
He also asked Ms Humphreys if an appeals process exists for fines issued for non-essential travel during the Covid-19 lockdown
Responding, the minister said: ‘An Garda Síochána is responsible for policing the criminal offences in the public health regulations made under the Health Act 1947.’
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly introduced a new system of fines with the updated the Health Amendment Act 2020.
Ms Humphreys added: ‘The Act allowed for a system of fixedcharge notices for people who breached certain Covid-19 regulations which had been designated as penal provisions.’
The figures reveal the most common penalty – dished out on 14,938 occasions – was €100 for leaving home without a reasonable excuse, while 787 fines of €2,000 for breaches of international travel, airport and port rules were handed down.
A further 1,150 fines of €500 for international travel breaches were issued. Fines for all breaches peaked in the months of February (5,629) and March (5,006) 2021.
Ms Humphreys noted: ‘A person has 28 days to pay the fixed charge after it is issued but... it is also open to anyone who has received a fixed-charge notice to apply to have it cancelled within 28 days of receiving the notice, or to choose to appear in court following a summons for the unpaid fine.’
The last month in which fines were levied was June 2021, with 15. Ms Humphreys also told Mr Phelan: ‘The deputy will be aware that non-essential travel is no longer an offence.’
She was unable to provide a regional breakdown of offences.
During lockdown, Cabinet sources told The Irish Mail on Sunday that concern was highest over the number of partying students in university towns.
One source said: ‘There were real concerns about the level of house parties in Cork and Limerick too. House parties were perceived to be a real menace.’
Minister Humphreys said: ‘Much has been asked of the Irish people, such as abiding by restrictions and curtailments to our day-to-day life which were previously unimaginable.
‘But the overwhelming majority of Irish people played their part and deserve huge credit for coming together to get through the most difficult of periods.
‘We can also be hugely proud of the work of the members An Garda Síochána throughout the pandemic as they policed many of the public-health regulations, such as those which could potentially lead to fines, while not only maintaining but actually strengthening their bonds with the communities they serve.’