Irish government response to the COVID-19 pandemic
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, the Irish government introduced various public health and economic measures to mitigate its impact.
The virus reached the country in late February 2020[1] and cases soon confirmed in all counties.[2] The government shut schools, childcare facilities and cultural institutions on 12 March 2020.[3] Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the first stay-at-home order on 27 March, which banned all non-essential travel and contact with others.[4]
Infections and deaths dropped to low levels by summer 2020 and restrictions were gradually lifted. Across the country, social distancing measures, self-isolation laws for those exposed to the virus and rules on face masks were introduced, as well as efforts to expand COVID-19 testing and tracing. In autumn and winter 2020, nationwide lockdowns were introduced in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases and the Alpha variant. A COVID-19 vaccination programme began in December 2020. In mid-2021, the government lifted restrictions during the fourth wave driven by the Delta variant, until further restrictions were reintroduced in response to the Omicron variant in December that year. Remaining restrictions were lifted from 28 February 2022 under a Living with COVID-19 plan announced by the government in early 2022.
First national lockdown (March–May 2020)[edit]
On the evening of Friday 27 March, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar gave a live televised speech to the nation during which he announced further restrictions on public activity and Ireland's first stay-at-home order.[17][18] He said that all people must stay at home until 12 April (Easter Sunday) from the following midnight[19] with the following exemptions: to travel to and from work (essential work only);[19] shopping for food or household goods;[19] to attend medical appointments or collect medicines or related products;[19] for vital family reasons, such as caring for a relative;[19] to take brief exercise within 2 km of home;[19] for farming purposes, such as food production or care of animals.[19] Department of the Taoiseach official Liz Canavan later clarified that the movement restrictions also did not apply to anyone trying to avoid "risk of harm", including those attempting to evade domestic abuse.[20] All public or private gatherings of any number of people outside a residence were prohibited.[19] More non-essential shops and services were shut, adult community education centres and local community centres were shut.[19] All non-essential surgery, health procedures and other non-essential health services was postponed.[19] All visits to hospitals, other residential healthcare facilities and prisons would cease, with specific exemptions on compassionate grounds.[19] Shielding, or cocooning, of those over 70 years of age, or those regarded as being in specific categories of vulnerable people, was introduced.[19] Minister for Transport Shane Ross confirmed that, following Varadkar's announcement of 28 March, driving tests and NCTs would be suspended, stating that it was "critical that we give drivers as well as operators of commercial vehicles peace of mind in relation to the status of their licence, learner permit, NCT certificate or certificate of roadworthiness, especially if it has expired or is likely to expire during the period of the COVID-19 health crisis".[21] On 6 June, Minister for Transport Shane Ross announced that NCT and DTT service centres would reopen from 8 June.[22][23]
On 10 April (Good Friday), Varadkar announced that the measures introduced on 27 March would be extended until at least 5 May.[24]
On 1 May, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the extension of the current restrictions to 18 May at the earliest.[25]
On 1 May 2020, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a roadmap to easing restrictions in Ireland that included five stages and was adopted by the government.[28][29]
On 5 June, Varadkar announced a series of changes to the government's roadmap of easing COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland, which he summed up as: "Stay Local".[30]
On 12 June, Varadkar announced that travel restrictions remain in place and that nobody should leave Ireland for the purpose of tourism or leisure.[31]
On 19 June, Varadkar announced a further re-configuration of the government's roadmap of easing COVID-19 restrictions with hairdressers, barbers, gyms, cinemas and churches reopening from 29 June.[32][33]
On 7 August, the new Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a series of regional measures for counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly following significant increases of COVID-19 cases in the three counties, which would come into effect from midnight and remain in place for two weeks.[34] Measures include:[35]
On 18 August, following a Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings, the Government announced six new nationwide measures because of the growing number of confirmed cases, which would remain in place until at least 13 September:[36]
On 9 September, the Government announced that measures introduced on 18 August would be extended until Tuesday 15 September as a new roadmap for "living with COVID-19" would be announced, which would include a colour-coded, five-level system to indicate what public health measures would be in place in different areas of the country at any given time.[37]
On 15 September, the Government announced a medium-term plan for living with COVID-19 that included five levels of restrictions, with the entire country at Level 2 and specific restrictions in Dublin including the postponement of the reopening of pubs not serving food.[38][39]
On 18 September, following an announcement at Government Buildings, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that Dublin would move to Level 3 restrictions from midnight and would remain in place for three weeks until 9 October.[45]
On 24 September, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that Donegal would also move to Level 3 restrictions from the midnight of 25 September and would remain in place for three weeks until 16 October, with pubs remaining open for takeaway, delivery and outdoor dining to a maximum of 15 people only.[46]
Second national lockdown (October–December 2020)[edit]
On 4 October, in a letter sent to the Government, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommended the highest level of restrictions for the entire country – Level 5 for four weeks, following an unscheduled NPHET meeting chaired by Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan.[47] The next day on 5 October, the Government rejected NPHET's recommendation, and instead moved every county in Ireland to Level 3 restrictions with improved enforcement and indoor dining in pubs and restaurants banned, which would come into effect from the midnight of 6 October until 27 October at the earliest.[48] Speaking on RTÉ's Claire Byrne Live, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar stated that the recommendation from NPHET to move to Level 5 "hadn't been thought through and there hadn't been prior consultation".[49]
On 14 October, the Government agreed a nationwide ban on all household visits from the night of Thursday 15 October, except for essential reasons such as childcare and on compassionate grounds.[50] Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that counties Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan would move to Level 4 restrictions from the midnight of 15 October until 10 November.[51]
On 16 October, the NPHET recommended to the Government to move the entire country to Level 5 restrictions for six weeks.[52] The next day, Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn and Chair of the Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Philip Nolan briefed the Government to explain why the NPHET recommended moving the entire country to Level 5 for six weeks.[53]
On 19 October, the Government agreed to move the entire country to Level 5 lockdown restrictions from midnight on Wednesday 21 October for six weeks until 1 December.[54]
On 8 November, the Government was criticised for a lack of clarity on what COVID-19 restrictions would apply at Christmas after the Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Philip Nolan warned that strict limits would be needed on Christmas gatherings.[55]
On 24 November, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar stated in Dáil Éireann that a third wave of restrictions may be required in the new year after the Christmas holiday.[56]
On 27 November, the Government agreed the approach for easing restrictions, including a phased move to Level 3 restrictions nationally from midnight on Tuesday 1 December, with a number of exceptions in place for the Christmas period from 18 December.[57]
Following the announcement of a third wave of COVID-19 that had arrived in the country,[58] the Government acted swiftly and on 22 December, Level 5 lockdown restrictions (subject to a number of adjustments) were agreed by the Government, which came into effect from 24 December (Christmas Eve) until 12 January 2021 at the earliest.[59][60]
Financial responses[edit]
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment[edit]
On 16 March 2020, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty announced the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, which was a government emergency aid program that provided monetary relief to those who face unemployment due to the pandemic, whether formerly employed or self-employed.[98]
On 24 March, the amount of money distributed as part of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment was increased from €203 per week to €350.[99]
The payment closed to new applicants on 22 January 2022,[100] and officially ended on 25 March 2022.[101]
Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme[edit]
On 24 March, the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme was announced.[102] This allowed employers maintain responsibility for paying employees during the pandemic with the intention of maintaining the employer-employee relationship and ensure that employees continued to be registered with their employers, so that they would be able to get back to work quickly after the pandemic.[103] The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme replaced an earlier COVID-19 Employer Refund Scheme.[104][105]
The scheme was replaced by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme in September 2020, which provided a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers whose turnover had fallen 30% based on the numbers of eligible employees on the employer's payroll, including seasonal staff and new employees.[106][107]
July stimulus package[edit]
A financial package designed to help employers and businesses was announced by the government in July 2020.[108][109]
Reception[edit]
Public opinion[edit]
According to a study in June 2022 by Policy Expertise and Trust in Action (PERITIA), a University College Dublin-lead European Commission Horizon 2020 project, almost 75% of people in Ireland believed the government's response to COVID-19 was motivated by protecting its own reputation. It found that 58% of Irish people felt "making lots of money" from the pandemic was also a priority for the government.[122]
Within the government[edit]
On 24 February 2021, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar addressed a meeting of Fine Gael TDs, Senators and MEPs and stated that criticism of how the Government had been communicating was reasonable, had been heard loud and clear, and would be taken on board, after a number of Fine Gael politicians launched an attack on Taoiseach Micheál Martin over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.[123][124][125]
Former Fine Gael minister John Paul Phelan started the backlash during the meeting and stated that the Taoiseach's performance had been "appalling" and said the party's membership were "livid".[126]
Fine Gael Leader of Seanad Éireann Regina Doherty stated that Fianna Fáil had "destroyed" the good work her party did during the first wave of COVID-19.[127]
Former Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and current MEP Frances Fitzgerald criticised Martin for saying "nothing new" in his address to the nation on 23 February[128] and former Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring stated the Government's performance over the last two weeks had been a "disgrace" and also stated that they had lost the trust of the people.[129]
On 25 February, the Leader of the Green Party and Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport Eamon Ryan defended accusations of "unholy mess" in the Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic,[130] and by 26 February, Taoiseach Micheál Martin faced growing anger within his own party over his handling of the pandemic. Kildare North TD James Lawless stated that the extension of the Level 5 lockdown was "largely predictable" and called on the Government to give people hope, while a number of TDs and senators privately stated that they were disillusioned with the party and insisted change was needed sooner rather than later.[131]