The Minister for Health has said an “unusual” Easter weekend is a small price to pay to save lives during the COVID-19 crisis.

Simon Harris was speaking after Gardaí were handed new powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown.

Officers will now have the power to force people to return home - with those found the be breaking the rules facing a fine or a prison term.

The powers will remain in place until the COVID-19 lockdown is lifted.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris inspects the 319 new Gardaí who are today leaving Templemore for front-line duty, 19-03-2020. Image: Mark Condren/PA Wire/PA Images

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Minister Harris said they would “only be used very sparingly.”

“They are effectively regulations that the Gardaí can have in their back pockets in case they need them,” he said.

“We are not expecting them to be used much. The Gardaí are not expecting to have to use them much and remember they have already been out patrolling and people will have seen Garda checkpoints in the last week.

“So, this is a support for the Gardaí and the excellent work they are doing and I suppose it is a reminder to all of us about the importance of following the public health measures.

“Thirty-six people died in our country yesterday.”

The new deaths announced yesterday brought the death toll in the Republic to 210 – with 5,709 cases confirmed around the country.

Garda powers

Minister Harris said the majority of people are responding very well to the public health advice; however, the new powers are needed for those that refuse.

“We have seen it in the past," he said. “We saw the famous pub in Temple Bar that opened and that upset a lot of people.

“So, we do need to have these powers but I don’t think that should take away from the very important message here that we are all trying to do the very best we can to save lives

He said the powers can be extended past Sunday as soon as the National Public Health Emergency Team makes its recommendation on extending the lockdown.

“Absolutely, if somebody is showing disrespect to your health and my health and risking your family’s health and refusing to comply, the Gardaí can ensure that they do comply,” he said.

“Unusual” Easter

There have been concerns in recent days over the potential for people to travel to holiday destinations over the weekend despite the restrictions.

Minister Harris said Gardaí would be in place to prevent that from happening.

Coumeenoole Beach on Slea Head outside Dingle in County Kerry, 28-07-2015. Image: RollingNews

“As we come into this traditional holiday weekend, we are saying to people it cannot be that normal holiday weekend,” he said.

“We are going to be asking people to have a very unusual Easter, just like they had an unusual St Patrick’s Day and an unusual Mother’s Day – life is unusual at the moment.

“But the alternative is so much worse.

“The alternative is a situation where we can’t save the lives we want to save here together.”

You can listen back to the full interview on Newstalk Breakfast here:

#ListenBack @BreakfastNT asked Minister @SimonHarrisTD to explain the new powers available to Gardai to deal with people who are not following the #coronavirus restrictions.

What does this mean?#BKNT https://t.co/vm7rsp2AkR

— Newstalk Breakfast (@BreakfastNT) April 8, 2020