Contraventions are acts or omissions that violate a law or regulation. Depending on the severity of the infraction, different penalties are imposed. In this article, we will discuss serious and very serious contraventions and the penalties that are applied for them.

Serious and Very Serious Contraventions

Serious contraventions are those that, by their nature, constitute a greater risk to the public order, the environment, or public health. In contrast, very serious contraventions are those that may cause serious or irreversible damage to the environment, public health, or public order.

Examples of serious contraventions include polluting the environment, operating hazardous machinery without the necessary safety equipment, and failing to comply with workplace safety regulations. Very serious contraventions include the illegal dumping of hazardous waste, the illegal transportation of hazardous materials, and the construction of buildings in violation of safety regulations.

Penalties for Contraventions

The penalties for serious contraventions vary depending on the severity of the infraction. Generally, individuals who commit serious contraventions can be fined up to €600,000 or sentenced to prison for up to three years.

In cases of very serious contraventions, individuals can be fined up to €800,000 or sentenced to prison for up to five years. In addition to fines and prison sentences, individuals may also be required to pay restitution to the victims of their actions.

In summary, serious and very serious contraventions are acts or omissions that violate a law or regulation and can incur fines, prison sentences, and restitution. It is important to remember that contraventions should be taken seriously and all laws and regulations should be followed to avoid these penalties.