Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020

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) is 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 the upper house's final sitting before counting got underway in the Seanad election which had to follow the February 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]

Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme

The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme provides for employers and employees of Ireland in the extraordinary circumstances of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The scheme allows employers to maintain responsibility for paying employees during the pandemic, with the intention of maintaining the employer-employee relationship and ensuring that employees continue to be registered with their employers, so that they will be able to get back to work quickly after the pandemic.[5]

The scheme was announced on 24 March for a twelve-week run beginning on 26 March,[6] and replaced an earlier COVID-19 Employer Refund Scheme.[7][8]

By early April, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) announced that a figure equivalent to more than one tenth of the country's population were unemployed, with nearly 5% of that figure on the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.[9][10] A spokesman for Goodbody Stockbrokers described it as "unprecedented".[11] By the following week, the numbers receiving income supports had increased by 40% from the previous week's total, though the closing of thousands of applications for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment meant it was "presumed" their employers had rehired them through the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.[12] By mid-May, a figure equivalent to nearly one tenth of the country's population were on the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme alone.[13]

On 6 May, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe told Morning Ireland that the scheme would continue "in some form" past its original intended date of ending.[14]

On 15 April, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe announced changes to the scheme such that the State would pay more money to workers.[15]

On 19 May, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said a decision would be made "soon" regarding an extension of the scheme.[16] On 5 June, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue announced that the scheme would be extended until the end of August.[17]

Even a State-owned company, RTÉ, sought to participate in the scheme.[18]

Women returning from giving birth were excluded from the scheme; they were advised to apply for social welfare instead.[19]

On 23 July, as part of the July Jobs Stimulus package announced by the Government of Ireland, the scheme would be replaced by the Employment Wage Support Scheme from September 2020 and would run until April 2021.[20]

Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme

The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers whose turnover has fallen 30% based on the numbers of eligible employees on the employer's payroll, including seasonal staff and new employees.[21][22]

The scheme was announced on 23 July as part of the July Jobs Stimulus package launched by the Government of Ireland for a seven-month run beginning on 1 September, and replaced the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.[20][23]

See also

References

Sources
  • Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020. Irish Statute Book. Office of the Attorney General of Ireland. 22 March 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  • "Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020". Bills in the Oireachtas. Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 22 March 2020.

Citations
  1. Lehane, Mícheál (26 March 2020). "Dáil passes emergency Covid-19 legislation". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  2. Kenny, Aisling (27 March 2020). "Emergency Covid-19 bill passes all stages in Seanad". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  3. Walshe, Patrick (30 March 2020). "Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020: A Briefing Note". www.philiplee.ie. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  4. Kenny, Aisling (20 March 2020). "President Higgins signs emergency measures into law". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  5. "Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme". www.gov.ie. Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. "COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme". www.citizensinformation.ie. Citizens Information. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  7. "COVID-19 Employer Refund Scheme". www.gov.ie. Department of Social Protection. Retrieved 24 April 2020. This payment has been replaced with the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy.
  8. Morahan, George (30 March 2020). "283,000 approved for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment". Extra.ie. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  9. John Patrick Kearns (2 April 2020). "Coronavirus Ireland: Nearly 300,000 people claiming COVID-19 pandemic payment as over half a million people out of work". Dublin Live. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  10. Daly, Adam (2 April 2020). "Over 500,000 people either out of work or receiving pandemic payments, new stats show". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  11. "14% Jump In Numbers Claiming Unemployment Benefit In Clare Amid Coronavirus Pandemic". Clare FM. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  12. Miley, Ingrid (6 April 2020). "More than 700,000 receiving income supports". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  13. Miley, Ingrid (14 May 2020). "Tax take plummets as wage subsidy bill reaches €936 million". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  14. Duffy, Rónán (6 May 2020). "Paschal Donohoe says wage subsidy and pandemic payment will continue 'in some form': The Finance Minister said however that the level of support may change". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  15. Finn, Christina (15 April 2020). "Changes to subsidy scheme: State will now pay up to 85% of wages for lower income workers". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  16. Finn, Christina (19 May 2020). "Decision due soon on extending Covid-19 unemployment payment, says minister: As people return back to work, the minister said he will look at the data on the number of claims". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  17. "Minister Donohoe announces extension of Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme until end August". gov.ie. Government of Ireland. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  18. Finn, Christina (22 April 2020). "RTÉ to avail of government's wage subsidy scheme". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  19. Ní Aodha, Gráinne (23 April 2020). "Women returning from maternity leave ineligible for Covid-19 wage subsidy". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  20. "Government launches €7.4 billion Jobs Stimulus to help businesses re-open, get people back to work and promote confidence". gov.ie. Department of the Taoiseach. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  21. "Minister Donohoe encourages employers to avail of the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme". gov.ie. Department of Finance. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  22. "Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme". citizensinformation.ie. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  23. "Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS)". Revenue. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
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