Health (Amendment) Bill 2020

Public bill · Government · Presented

The measure would strengthen enforcement of Covid-19 public health rules made under the Health Act 1947. It would let some alleged offenders pay a fixed fine instead of going to court, introduce lighter penalties for a first offence and harsher ones for repeat offences, and give Gardaí extra powers to order people to leave suspected unlawful gatherings in private homes. It matters because it is designed to make public health restrictions easier to enforce during the pandemic and discourage repeated breaches.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to make further and better provision in relation to the enforcement of regulations under section 31A of the Health Act 1947; for that purpose, to make provision in relation to the prosecution of certain offences consisting of contraventions of those regulations, to provide for the payment of fixed sums by persons alleged to have committed certain such offences in lieu of their being prosecuted for those offences; to provide for the giving of directions by members of the Garda Síochána in certain circumstances; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Last updated 11 May 2021