Posted by Photographs emerge of gardai ‘inspecting shopping’. Dermot Jewell said this is a Violation of People’s Privacy and Human Rights, while Liam Herrick, ICCL said it is necessary?
© Provided by Extra.ie A shopper wearing a face mask opens his shopping bag as a garda looks in. Pic: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images Photographs have emerged which appear to show gardai inspecting people’s shopping as part of the coronavirus lockdown. In one image, a shopper wearing a face mask opens his shopping bag as a garda looks in. In another, a cyclist with shopping in a basket on the front of his bike is spoken to by an officer wearing rubber gloves. However, it remains unclear how widespread the practice is. Asked if gardai had powers to check people’s shopping to see if they are buying non-essential items, a Garda spokesman said: ‘We will police as it has always been done, with the consent of the people.________________________________________________________________Want to help?: Volunteer Ireland are looking for people to assist our communities’ most vulnerable members during the coronavirus emergency. If you’re interested in helping, click HERE_________________________________________________________________‘It is in everybody’s interest that people comply with these measures. There has been good compliance with the restrictions and we want to thank the public for this. However, it is vital that this continues over the coming days and weekend as this action will save lives.’
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Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Brid Smith said she thought the apparent checking of people’s shopping was an overreach of Garda powers. She said: ‘Apart from shoplifting or abusing the protocols, I can’t imagine in what circumstances they would need to be inspecting people’s shopping bags. I find it very strange really, it’s worrying.
‘If it’s random inspection of people’s shopping bags to see if they’re shopping for essential goods or not, well that’s extraordinary because it’s only essential goods that should be sold at the moment.’ The pictures also shocked Consumers’ Association of Ireland chief Dermott Jewell, who said: ‘This is, to all intents and purposes, a violation of privacy.’
Fred. Worrying times we live in, we need a Srong team to Represent the people and fight for their Civil Rights and Liberties? However, we must always be aware of our basic civil liberties and any intrusion by the State, that cannot be justified or can be identified as an intrusion of the ordinary human being’s basic human rights. Being aware of coronavirus COVID-2019 has thrown many arrors in the air and what will happen to Human Rights of people and their Civil Liberties is anyone’s guess as they cannot even tell us when there may be a vaccine (they say it could be one year to 18 months if not more). Personally I met this virtual connection to this Harvard inter alia Epidemiologist man on Twitter, which he has selected to make his announcements each day concerning COVID-19 and he is worth listening to so that you can achieve a balance and seek out equity too. Dr Eric-Feigi-Ding is worth following on a daily basis. He compares countries and US falls far short of the standards one would expect while South Korea has become a model example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1n848mVFU0
Excerpt: To a democracy like Ireland; this would be excessive but then who knows what lies ahead with this Pandemic COVID-19?
Control of Information: Numerous countries have made it illegal for the media or individuals to publicize information about the coronavirus without government pre-clearance. For example, the Indian state of Maharashtra, with a population of 114 million people, has put such a restriction in place. In Thailand, journalists can face up to five years in prison for failing to correct what the government deems to be incorrect information about the coronavirus. Similarly, in Hungary, journalists and others face up to five years imprisonment for “distorting” information about the disease. In Egypt, the government blocks or limits access to news websites that it deems to be spreading false information about the pandemic.
Who Watches the Watchers? 