Gardaí 'must distinguish' between face mask users before asking individuals to remove them

Garda sources told the media at the time existing public order legislation was insufficient to deal with such situations and that frontline officers need a clear legal power to direct people to take off their masks. File picture

Frontline gardaí will have to be able to distinguish between people who are wearing face coverings to conceal their identity for criminal reasons from those wearing them for health or religious reasons before directing someone to remove their mask.

That is according to an analysis of proposals, carried out by the Oireachtas Library & Research Service.