8C.—(1) Where a member of An Garda Síochána finds a person in a public place wearing a face covering on his or her face and suspects, with reasonable cause, that such person is—

(a) without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, acting in a manner which consists of loitering in a public place in circumstances, which may include the company of other persons, that give rise to a reasonable apprehension for the safety of persons or the safety of property or for the maintenance of public peace, and

(b) wearing the face covering on his or her face—

(i) with intent to intimidate another person, or

(ii) in a manner that is likely to intimidate another person,

the member may direct the person wearing the face covering so suspected to do any or all of the following:

(I) desist from acting in such a manner;

(II) remove the face covering from his or her face;

(III) leave immediately the vicinity of the place concerned in a peaceable or orderly manner.

(2) It shall be an offence for any person, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to fail to comply with a direction given by a member of An Garda Síochána under this section.

(3) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

(4) In this section, "face covering" means an article of any type, which, when worn by a person, covers the person’s face or part of the person’s face.]