Laws banning the wearing of face masks at protests look set to be rushed through Cabinet before any general election is called.
The Attorney General is understood to have given the green light to the laws, which are due to go to Cabinet next week.
The Justice Department has been working on the law changes in the months since the Dublin Riots, with Justice Minister Helen McEntee pledging to introduce them ‘as soon as possible’.
She is now in a race against time to get them over the line before the Government is dissolved – with many commentators still expecting the Taoiseach to call an election in the coming weeks.
On The Anton Savage Show this morning, The Irish Times Political Correspondent Jack Horgan Jones said introducing the ban could be complicated.
“The reaction of the political system to [recent protests] was to say, you know, ‘We’re going to ban face coverings at protests,’” he said.
“The Attorney General in my understanding has offered advice on this and, while he has given a broad strokes green light to it saying that it is in line with existing legislation, he is saying that it is complicated - that there needs to be more consultation in the course of drafting the heads of bill.”
Balaclavas
He said Garda management has been calling for the ban to be introduced.
“The Gardaí themselves - this is what the politicians are saying - have requested this power to [deal] with face coverings,” he said.
“They do see it as a novel departure; it is the preponderance, it is how frequently they are seeing it and presumably, as well, the degree to which it frustrates investigation as well.
“We have seen the policing approach of protests has been the subject of a lot of political commentary.”
Mask ban
He said he is not confident the ban will be passed before the Government is dissolved.
“The point is that there is the political imperative here to do something, but also the political reality of the legislative process and then the hard ceiling on legislative action which we all know about,” he said.
“So, If I was to bet, I would think that this is not going to get done by this Government if there is, in any form, an urgent election in November or December.”
Masked protesters have turned up at politicians' homes on a number of occasions in recent months, while balaclavas have also been used at protests outside accommodation earmarked for asylum seekers.
It is understood the ban will apply in circumstances where the wearing of a mask is “intended to intimidate”.
Minister McEntee is working with the Garda Commissioner and the Attorney General in drafting the legislation.
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