The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020 (Act No. 2 of 2020; previously the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020, Bill No. 4 of 2020) was an Act of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) which provided for additional powers for the state in the extraordinary circumstances of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Owing to social distancing measures required to combat the virus, and at the written request of Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the Dáil sitting to discuss the legislation on 26 March was "considerably reduced" in numbers and, after an amendment intended to guarantee against evictions, the bill passed without a vote.[1] The bill then passed without a vote the following day (27 March) through all stages in Seanad Éireann (in its final sitting before the count of the Seanad election which followed the 2020 general election).[2] President Michael D. Higgins signed the bill into law the same day.[3]
Amongst other things, the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020 introduced the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.[3]
This followed the passing of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 the previous week.[4]
- ^ Lehane, Mícheál (26 March 2020). "Dáil passes emergency Covid-19 legislation". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ Kenny, Aisling (27 March 2020). "Emergency Covid-19 bill passes all stages in Seanad". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ a b Walshe, Patrick (30 March 2020). "Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020: A Briefing Note". www.philiplee.ie. Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ Kenny, Aisling (20 March 2020). "President Higgins signs emergency measures into law". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
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