Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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774. To ask the Minister for Health the relevant authorities, for example, An Garda Síochána or the Health and Safety Authority, responsible for enforcing the provisions of the S.I. No. 296/2020 - Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) Regulations 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25162/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) Regulations 2020 [SI No 296 of 2020] provide that a person shall not, without reasonable excuse, enter or remain in a premises where goods are sold directly to the public or a premises set out in the regulations, without wearing a face covering.

The Regulations provide that a responsible person shall take reasonable steps to engage with persons entering or in the relevant premises to inform them of the requirement not to enter or remain in a premises without wearing a face covering and to promote compliance with these requirements. For the purposes of the Regulations, a responsible person is specified as:

(a) the occupier of the relevant premises,

(b) the manager of the relevant premises, and

(c) any other person for the time being in charge of the relevant premises.

Enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána.