Enforcement of vaccine passes in nightclubs and music venues will be a legal requirement, but gardaí will have a limited role in its enforcement.
On Tuesday, the Government announced late-night venues will be permitted to reopen under strict conditions, including that customers produce a valid document showing they have had the Covid-19 vaccine.
This system will function in the same way as it has applied to pubs and restaurants since the start of the summer.
Checking for vaccine passes will be a legal requirement, but enforcement will primarily be a matter for the HSE and the Health and Safety Authority rather than the Garda, a Department of Health spokesman said.
Enforcement of the vaccine-pass system in late venues will be carried out by health inspectors who will work with offending venues “to bring them into compliance,” the Department of Health spokesman said.
If this fails, the venue may be referred to the Garda who have the power to object to late night licences in the District Court.
“Members of An Garda Síochána are not ‘compliance officers’’ in respect of the current regulations.
