The Policing Authority wants to see anti-spit hoods "vanish" from An Garda Siochana post COVID-19.

Gardaí have anti-spit hoods they can put on members of the public who are spitting or threatening to do so.

They have been used 15 times in recent weeks, while gardaí have been spat or coughed at 31 times since April 6th.

While spit hoods are used by a number of international police forces, some rights' organisations have criticised them as being 'dangerous and degrading'.

The use of the hoods here is due to be reviewed in September, with the force insisting they're currently only being used as a 'last resort'.

Commissioner Drew Harris didn't give a commitment to the Policing Authority that their use would be curtailed when the emergency ends.

He said: "We're content to do a review on the 1st September and then we can review the situation.

"We don't envisage we will be using this as protective equipment beyond that... but I'm not sure what exactly the scenario we face [will be] on 1st September."