The government may introduce an increased non-essential travel fine of €2,000. The current fine is €500.
Speaking to the Dáil, Taoiseach Micheál Martin explained that around 60% of international travellers arriving into Ireland are returning Irish holidaymakers. He said that “there is a sense that €500 is not a sufficient disincentive to travel abroad”.
He has asked Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to sign off legislation to increase the non-essential travel fine. Legislation for hotel quarantining is also expected before cabinet next week.
Gardaí have set up roadside check-points around Dublin Airport since these restrictions came into play, issuing fines to people leaving the country for non-essential reasons.
Last week, Gardaí shared a fake employer letter which claimed to provide a ‘reasonable excuse’ for someone to undertake international travel to Tenerife. The letter claimed that the person travelling was an “Electronic Security Systems Provider which is an essential service in Europe and covered by the Irish Government advice of January 24th”.
Gardaí shared the image on Twitter with the caption: “Gardaí at Dublin Airport checking ‘reasonable excuse’ for international travel were provided this letter, found to be false. €500 fine issued. Covid-19 doesn’t switch-off so that people can attend parties, or go on holidays, or gather in large groups.”
Gardaí also revealed last week that 4,600 fines have been issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations in Ireland.
Leo Varadkar recently said that foreign holidays won’t be a runner this year. Speaking to RTÉ 2FM, he said:
“I have booked my home holidays for August in Sligo. I had hoped to go to a beach somewhere, not going to happen – well it will be a beach in Sligo but I’d hoped to get somewhere sunny and warm but that’s not going to be a runner this summer.
“I think there’s a very good chance this summer we’ll be able to have home holidays like we did last summer.”
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