Hundreds of people attended a protest organised by Health Freedom Ireland and Yellow Vest Ireland.
Three people have been arrested in relation to protests at Custom House Quay in Dublin city centre on Saturday afternoon.
In a statement to JOE, Gardaí confirmed that three males had been arrested. One was arrested for breach of the peace and two men for public order offences.
Investigations into all three arrests are ongoing.
According to RTÉ, approximately 500 people have turned out for the protests, the majority of whom are not wearing face masks. There is also a significant number of Gardaí present.
Days after government measures were updated limiting outdoor gatherings and events to 15 people, meanwhile, it is also reported that social distancing guidelines were not being observed.
The protest, described as a rally in support of the #TimeForChange campaign, was organised to protest, Yellow Vest Ireland said, “against government mandates, demanding transparency, proportionality of decisions and accountability by government officials and advisors”.
Current government measures in place to combat the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland were criticised by speakers at the event as unnecessary.
One of the speakers at the event, Una McGurk, said the wearing of face masks, which is required by law in a number of indoor settings in Ireland and recommended in other circumstances, should be a choice and not a mandate.
Barrister and Senior Counsel, Una McGurk is speaking. Masks should be a choice not a mandate! pic.twitter.com/R6qqFSIypQ
— HealthFreedomIreland (@HealthFreedomIE) August 22, 2020
Another speaker, Professor Dolores Cahill, said: “There have been unnecessary deaths… but it will be 10 to 20 times more people that will die because of the lockdown.”
Professor Dolores Cahill: “There have been unnecessary deaths… but it will be 10 to 20 times more people that will die because of the lockdown”. pic.twitter.com/ouBlTHrarx
— HealthFreedomIreland (@HealthFreedomIE) August 22, 2020
As of 5pm on Saturday, Custom House Quay remained closed due to the demonstration; Gardaí are directing traffic in the area.
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