Ms Caitriona Mason:

We have engaged with An Garda Síochána on this issue and we continue to do so. In one respect, the general scheme represents broad brush strokes and we are working through the details with colleagues in the Department of Justice, who work in the public order area, and with An Garda Síochána. Within the general scheme, we have a graduated approach to policing, which has been borrowed from the Covid-19 experience. This goes back to the central point of balancing conflicting or countervailing constitutional rights. The general scheme contains powers to enable An Garda Síochána to respond and to issue a warning. There are also powers of arrest and prosecution. As I said, this is a work in progress. We are continuing to engage with the Garda and the Office of the Attorney General regarding many of these issues.