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People travelling from the North into the Republic are being turned back at the Border if they do not have an essential reason for travel.<\/p>\nPeople travelling from the North into the Republic are being turned back at the Border if they do not have an essential reason for travel.<\/p>\n
A number of Garda checkpoints were operating along the border on Monday to enforce the new Covid-19 regulations.<\/p>\n
People living in Northern Ireland who cross the Border without a reasonable excuse face a \u20ac100 fine.<\/p>\n
One such checkpoint, near Emyvale on the Tyrone-Monaghan border, had seen three motorists turned back on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
Inspector Adrian Durcan from the Monaghan Garda station told the PA news agency: \u201cWe have a checkpoint which is here to enforce the regulations which are currently in existence, to ensure that people comply with the Covid rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom 7 o\u2019clock this morning, we\u2019re here to advise people that anybody who is not ordinarily resident in this state, they are now liable to a fine of \u20ac100, if they are travelling without an essential reason to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Insp Durcan said no fines have been issued so far, but that some people have been turned back.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe have engaged with a few people who have not had essential reasons and on the advice of the guards, they have turned back.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have turned back when requested. I think it was three so far this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said garda\u00ed would issue fines to those not complying with the regulations and follow up through court summons.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will receive the fine and have 28 days to pay the fine. Failure to pay that fine will result in a court appearance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they don\u2019t pay it we will issue a summons in respect of the offence and we will follow through on that summons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would have no concerns at the minute other than to ensure that people have an essential reason to travel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here to encourage them and to explain to them that unless they are essential reasons we will be issuing fines.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cAt the minute we have had excellent compliance from the majority of people and we thank them for that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s still a minority of people who are not complying with the regulations and we\u2019re here to ensure that these breaches aren\u2019t reoccurring.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new measures apply to anyone who is \u201cnot ordinarily resident\u201d in the Republic.<\/p>\n
The Garda said, if enforcement is required, a fixed payment notice for \u20ac100 will be issued to each person who is in breach of the regulation.<\/p>\n
If garda\u00ed stop a car with a driver and two passengers, then each of the three adults will receive a fine of \u20ac100.<\/p>\n
The new rules mean the Garda can turn back day trippers from Northern Ireland who cross the border.<\/p>\n
Under Ireland\u2019s current Covid-19 public health restrictions, travel is restricted to within five kilometers of a person\u2019s home except for essential reasons.<\/p>\n
Around 4,600 people have been fined for breaching Covid-19 regulations in Ireland.<\/p>\n
About 3,500 of the fines were for non-essential travel, including around 375 for non-essential journeys to airports\/ports.<\/p>\n
People travelling to an airport or port to take a holiday abroad are liable for a \u20ac500 fine for undertaking a non-essential journey.<\/p>\n
The Government has advised against all non-essential travel.<\/p>\n