Gardaí have used anti-spit hoods 118 times while policing during the coronavirus pandemic, according to report from the Policing Authority.
The hoods, the use of which has been criticised by both the Authority and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, have been used 100 times on males, 18 times on females and six times on children.
They have been deployed mainly in Dublin (on 51 occasions) and mostly during assaults and public order incidents - 54 times for public order offences and 34 times during an assault.
In 79 cases, the person appeared to be intoxicated, while in 16 cases the detainee was believed to have a mental health issue.