Ireland takes another step out of lockdown today as all non-essential retail opens.
Restrictions will continue to ease across the country in the next few weeks with Ireland on the road to normality later this year.
But we aren't there yet and many rules are still in place, we take a look at the seven offences you can still be fined for;
Covid fines in Ireland
1. Arrivals to Ireland who do not quarantine at home or in a place of residence can be fined up to €5,000 or face six months in prison, or both. There are very limited exceptions where you do not have to complete home quarantine.
2. For not following hotel quarantine laws or obstructing a designated official or member of the gardai seeking to enforce these laws, you can be fined up to €2,000 or face up to a month in prison, or both.
3. Non-essential travel abroad can see a fixed payment notice of up to €2,000 and can put you at risk of court prosecution. If travelling abroad for essential purposes, you should provide evidence for your reason of travel.
Below is a list of ‘reasonable excuses’ for travelling abroad:
- To go to college or school if you have to be there in person.
- To go with a child or a vulnerable adult to school if they have to be there in person.
- To work or travel related to your business.
- To go to a medical or dental appointment, or to go to an appointment with someone you live with, or a vulnerable person.
- To seek essential medical, health or dental services, or to accompany someone you live with, or a vulnerable person who needs essential treatment.
- To care for a family member or for other vital family reasons.
- To go to a funeral.
- To meet a legal obligation (for example, to appear in court).
- To give access to a child to the other parent of the child, or to access a child that you have a right of access to.
- To leave Ireland if you are not resident in Ireland.
4. Organising a prohibited event that is not in a home can see a fine of €500.
By law, you cannot host or attend an indoor event in a private home unless it is just for the residents and up to 2 other households. You can only hold an outdoor event at your home if there are either:
- No more than six people (from any number of households)
- No more than 15 people (from your household and two other households)
5. A fine of €150 will be issued to anyone attending an unlawful social or recreational gathering.
6. As all non-essential retail opens today, it is important to remember that not wearing a face- covering in a retail outlet, or other specified premises, without a reasonable excuse warrants a fine of €80.
7. Not wearing a face covering on public transport without a reasonable excuse also sees a fine of €80.
