Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 9 September 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Covid-19: Legislative Framework Underpinning the State's Response

Dr. Gianni Buquicchio:

Guidelines or recommendations are not enforceable. To be enforceable they need a legal basis. For example, there are recommendations on how to wear masks correctly. These are not enforceable. The recommendation to wear a mask in public in open space was an administrative decision taken on the basis of legal advice. These are now compulsory in France, for instance.