The Irish Council for Civil Liberties have criticised the use of fixed charge penalty notices to enforce Covid-19 guidelines.
Executive Director Liam Herrick said that the previous approach, where the Director of Public Prosecutions would be consulted before a fine was issued, was "far more effective".
He said that there is now a risk of "uneven policing" and criticised the legislation as being "difficult to interpret". Mr Herrick said that it was his belief that many gardaí were uncomfortable with the new enforcement measures.
ICCL believe that a "rigid" form of fines will cause further confusion and is unlikely to have an overall positive effect. They advocate an approach that involves "clear messaging".