Cabinet scraps Stephen Donnelly's proposal to penalise homeowners for flouting visitor rules

According to sources, there was feeling expressed that Mr Donnelly’s memo over-reached and ministers were keen to look to the compliance route over enforcement. File Photo: Julien Behal

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly’s desire to criminally prosecute those found to have more than six visitors in their homes was axed following a last-minute intervention by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

The Irish Examiner has learned that the proposal to have it as a penal provision was included in Mr Donnelly’s memo to Cabinet, but when it was debated by ministers, he himself said it was right to forego the proposal.