Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have a point that may be best directed to the Ceann Comhairle. I thanked the Government for the briefing but those who gave that briefing were not party to the making of the regulations. This is a Department of Justice and Equality Bill and it will be taken by the Minister for Justice and Equality, who has no hand, act or part in the drafting of the regulations in question. The officials told us that. That is my difficulty. It is an unusual piece of criminal law that sets out penalties and enforcement procedures for crimes that are not in the Bill itself. We must have a very clear understanding of crimes that can take away a person's livelihood.

I do not take the advices kindly from the Government Chief Whip to suggest in any way that anybody in this House wants to cause any difficulties in combatting Covid-19. We need to bring the public with us on this unified battle and we must have clarity with the criminal sanctions. We need to know what will be criminalised and what may be added to the list of criminal actions. Those questions are for the Minister for Health and not the Minister for Justice and Equality.

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