Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in the Republic of Ireland

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and affected the political system of the Republic of Ireland, causing suspensions of legislative activities and isolation of multiple politicians due to fears of spreading the virus. Several politicians have tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021.

General election and government formation

On 8 February, a general election took place in Ireland, before the outbreak had been declared a pandemic or reached Europe. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael began talks on government formation on 11 March prompted by the public health emergency posed by COVID-19.[1][2]

On 20 February, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar offered his resignation to President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin, remaining, however, as Taoiseach in a caretaker capacity until the formation of a new government.[3] President of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald was the first high-profile politician affected by the spread of COVID-19, with her party cancelling events and her family entering self-isolation for a period, after McDonald confirmed on 2 March that her children attended the same school as the student with the first recorded case of COVID-19 in Ireland.[4]

Restriction announcements

On 12 March, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced from Washington measures intended to stop COVID-19 spreading, including the closure of all schools, universities and childcare facilities from the following day, as well as the closure of all cultural institutions and the cancellation of "all indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor mass gatherings of more than 500 people".[5] After returning home earlier than anticipated from his visit to the United States, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addressed the nation on Saint Patrick's Night during A Ministerial Broadcast by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, TD, introducing television viewers to the concept of "cocooning", i.e. "At a certain point… we will advise the elderly and people who have a long-term illness to stay at home for several weeks".[6][7][8] The speech, which Varadkar made under Section 112 of the Broadcast Act, was the most watched television event in Irish history, surpassing the previous record held by The Late Late Toy Show by an additional total of about 25% and was widely distributed globally.[9][10] It was also plagiarised by Peter Bellew, the chief operating officer at British low-cost airline group EasyJet.[11]

On 24 March, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced from Government Buildings the extension of all existing measures until 19 April—as well as stricter measures, among which were: the limiting of social gatherings to four people (unless members of the same household); the shutting of all non-essential retail outlets still open—effective from midnight—bringing an official end to hairdressing, theatres, gyms, leisure centres, betting offices, marts and other market places, casinos and bingo halls, playgrounds, holiday caravan parks, organised indoor and outdoor social events of any kind, including all sport (some of which, such as horse racing, was then still being held behind closed doors); the limitation of cafes and restaurants to takeaway and delivery services. Varadkar stopped short of calling it a "lockdown", the term used in other countries.[12][13][14]

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.[15][16] He said that all people must stay at home until 12 April (Easter Sunday) from the following midnight[17] with the following exemptions: to travel to and from work (essential work only);[17] shopping for food or household goods;[17] to attend medical appointments or collect medicines or related products;[17] for vital family reasons, such as caring for a relative;[17] to take brief exercise within 2 km of home;[17] for farming purposes, such as food production or care of animals.[17] 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.[18] All public or private gatherings of any number of people outside a residence were prohibited.[17] More non-essential shops and services were shut, adult community education centres and local community centres were shut.[17] All non-essential surgery, health procedures and other non-essential health services was postponed.[17] All visits to hospitals, other residential healthcare facilities and prisons would cease, with specific exemptions on compassionate grounds.[17] Shielding, or cocooning, of those over 70 years of age, or those regarded as being in specific categories of vulnerable people, was introduced.[17] 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".[19] On 6 June, Minister for Transport Shane Ross announced that NCT and DTT service centres would reopen from 8 June.[20][21]

On 10 April (Good Friday), Varadkar announced that the measures introduced on 27 March would be extended until at least 5 May.[22]

On 1 May, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the extension of the current restrictions to 18 May at the earliest.[23] A roadmap to easing restrictions in Ireland that includes five stages was adopted by the government on 1 May 2020 and subsequently published online.[24][25]

On 5 June, Taoiseach Leo 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".[26]

On 12 June, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that travel restrictions remain in place and that nobody should leave Ireland for the purpose of tourism or leisure.[27]

On 19 June, Taoiseach Leo 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.[28][29]

On 7 August, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a series of measures for counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly following significant increases of COVID-19 cases in the three counties, which will come into effect from midnight and will remain in place for two weeks.[30] Measures include:[31][32]

  • Residents of the three counties will not be permitted to travel outside of their counties except for in limited circumstances including to travel to and from work.
  • Restaurants, cafés, pubs serving food, cinemas, gyms, theatres, museums, galleries, bingo halls, casinos, betting shops, leisure centres and other indoor recreational and cultural outlets will be closed.
  • All retail outlets may remain open but with strict adherence to public health guidelines, including the wearing of face coverings.
  • All indoor gatherings will be restricted to 6 people and outdoor gatherings restricted to 15 people.

On 18 August, following a Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings, the Government of Ireland announced six new measures because of the growing number of confirmed cases, which will remain in place until at least 13 September:[33][34][35]

  • All outdoor events will be limited to 15 people
  • All indoor events will be limited to 6 people, except for religious services, weddings and businesses, such as shops and restaurants
  • Gardaí will be given new powers to enforce rules around social gatherings in restaurants and bars serving food, and in private homes
  • Restaurants and cafés can remain open with closing times of 11.30pm
  • People will be advised to work from home and to avoid using public transport, unless absolutely necessary
  • Sports events and matches will revert to behind closed doors with strict avoidance of social gatherings before and after events

On 9 September, the Government of Ireland announced that measures introduced on 18 August will be extended until Tuesday 15 September as a new roadmap for "living with COVID-19" will be announced, which will include a colour-coded, five-level system to indicate what public health measures are in place in different areas of the country at any given time.[36][37]

On 15 September, the Government of Ireland announced a medium-term plan for living with COVID-19 that includes 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 will move to Level 3 restrictions from midnight and will remain in place for three weeks until 9 October.[40][41][42]

On 24 September, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that Donegal would move to Level 3 restrictions from the midnight of 25 September and will 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.[43][44][45]

On 4 October, in a letter sent to the Government of Ireland, the National Public Health Emergency Team 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.[46][47][48] The next day on 5 October, the Government of Ireland rejected the National Public Health Emergency Team's recommendation to place the entire country under Level 5 restrictions, and instead moved every county in Ireland to Level 3 COVID-19 restrictions with improved enforcement and indoor dining in pubs and restaurants banned, which will come into effect from the midnight of 6 October until 27 October at the earliest.[49][50][51] 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".[52][53][54]

On 14 October, the Government of Ireland 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.[55][56] 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.[57][58][59]

On 16 October, the National Public Health Emergency Team recommended to the Government of Ireland to move the entire country to Level 5 restrictions for six weeks.[60][61][62]

On 17 October, Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn and Chair of the Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Philip Nolan briefed the three leaders of the Government of Ireland, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath to explain why the National Public Health Emergency Team recommended moving the entire country to Level 5 COVID-19 restrictions for six weeks.[63][64][65]

On 19 October, the Government of Ireland agreed to move the entire country to Level 5 lockdown restrictions from midnight on Wednesday 21 October for six weeks until 1 December.[66][67][68]

On 8 November, the Government of Ireland 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.[69]

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.[70][71][72]

On 27 November, the Government of Ireland 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.[73][74][75]

Following the announcement of a third wave of COVID-19 that had arrived in the country,[76][77][78] the Government of Ireland 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.[79][80][81]

On 30 December, six days after lockdown restrictions with a number of adjustments were reimposed nationwide, the Government of Ireland agreed to move the entire country to full Level 5 lockdown restrictions from midnight until 31 January 2021 at the earliest.[82][83][84]

On 6 January 2021, the Government of Ireland agreed a number of new lockdown measures including the closure of all schools until February with Leaving Certificate students allowed to attend school for three days a week,[85][86] the closure of all non-essential construction sites with certain exceptions at 6pm on 8 January,[87][88] the requirement from 9 January for all passengers from the UK and South Africa to have a negative PCR test that they acquired within 72 hours of travelling[89] and the prohibition of click-and-collect services for non-essential retail.[90][91][92] During the new lockdown, the Government was forced to abandon plans for Leaving Certificate students to attend school on three days a week and plans to reopen special schools on Thursday 21 January for thousands of children with special educational needs due to safety concerns among staff unions.[93][94][95]

On 22 January, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that there would be no easing of Level 5 lockdown restrictions at the end of January and suggested the current restrictions would be in place for at least another four weeks.[96][97][98] On 26 January, the Government of Ireland announced the extension of the Level 5 lockdown restrictions until 5 March, along with a number of new measures including a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for all people travelling into the country without a negative COVID-19 test, including all arrivals from Brazil and South Africa.[99][100][101]

Other government events

Calleary, a minister, and Buttimer, a senator, attended the Oireachtas Golf Society event in August 2020; both subsequently resigned from their main political offices.

On 9 March, a Cabinet Sub-Committee on COVID-19 was established.[102][103] It published a National Action Plan on 16 March.[104]

On 19 March, Dáil Éireann reconvened under social distancing measures to pass emergency legislation. At the written request of Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the sitting was limited to 48 TDs (11 each representing Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin, four Greens, three members of the Regional Group and two members of all other parties and groups). The legislation—Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020—passed all stages, and, following requests by opposition TDs, included a sunset provision for review in November.[105] During the sitting, Eamon Ryan called on the Irish to grow lettuce on their window sills: "Let's get every south facing window sill in this country and lets plant our seeds in the next week so that if there is any supply crisis in food in two or three months time when this really hits hard, we'll have our salads ready to go".[106]

On 20 March, Seanad Éireann—also sitting in reduced numbers—passed the legislation after a three-hour debate.[107] President Higgins wrote the legislation into law later that day, giving the state the power to detain people, restrict travel and keep people in their homes to restrict the pandemic.[108]

At its next sitting—on 26 March—the Dáil passed further emergency legislation—Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Bill 2020—introduced due to the virus, again with deliberately limited numbers attending, and without a vote.[109] President of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald was absent after announcing on Twitter that she had awoken with a "head cold" and that Pearse Doherty would lead the party instead.[110][111] The election for Leas-Cheann Comhairle (deputy "chair" or "speaker" of Dáil Éireann) was scheduled for early that morning, but was deferred. Taoiseach Varadkar asked Denis Naughten to temporarily fill the role to avert a possible constitutional crisis, with the previous occupant Pat "the Cope" Gallagher having lost his seat in the February general election and the need for a Leas-Cheann Comhairle being regarded as critical should Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl become incapacitated.[112][113] Naughten, a former Fine Gael politician who left the party to sit as an independent, had run against Ó Fearghaíl during the earlier election to fill the main office. After passing through the Dáil, the bill passed without a vote the following day (27 March) through all stages in the Seanad (in its final sitting before counting got underway in the Seanad election which had to follow the February general election), and President Higgins signed the bill into law the same day.[114][115] There followed a paralysis of the national legislature on the basis that the Taoiseach had to nominate the final eleven members of the Seanad, Varadkar (as outgoing Taoiseach) did not have the support of the Dáil (and was therefore prevented by the Constitution from filling the vacancies) and no other nomination for Taoiseach could be agreed upon by all parties in the Dáil.[116][117]

The Dáil met again—one week after its previous sitting—on 2 April again with deliberately limited numbers, this time augmented by a Labour Party boycott—while Mary Lou McDonald's absence continued (announced the previous day) due to her being "under the weather".[118][119]

The Dáil's next meeting occurred from 12 midday to 7:30 pm on 23 April (following the Easter break), at which a limited number of its members discussed the impact of the virus.[120]

With a new government formed on 27 June, the Dáil moved from its traditional home at Leinster House to the Convention Centre to facilitate social distancing. Thus it was that, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin rotated into position as Taoiseach on a contract of two and a bit years.[121] Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl confirmed as early as March that arrangements were being made for the move from Leinster House for the occasion, with Dublin Castle also having been suggested as a possible venue.[122][123] The Convention Centre was announced in early April as having been selected.[124] The Dáil sat in the Convention Centre from June until it was announced on 11 September that it would return to Leinster House for socially-distanced debates on Tuesdays and Thursdays while continuing at the Convention Centre on Wednesdays with full attendance where required for voting purposes.[125]

August brought the Oireachtas Golf Society scandal. On 21 August, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Dara Calleary and Seanad Leas-Chathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer resigned after they attended the event, in contravention of regulations under the Health Act.[126][127] Phil Hogan, the European Commissioner for Trade, soon followed, having also travelled through Kildare while the county was in lockdown and when he was supposed to be self-isolating after arriving in Ireland from Brussels.[128][129] Meanwhile, amid the golf reports, the new Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly equated COVID-19 to jumping on a trampoline, only to formally retract it afterwards while speaking before an Oireachtas committee.[130]

Instances of isolation and testing

McDonald (Sinn Féin), McConalogue (Fianna Fáil) and McEntee (Fine Gael) were the first TDs from their respective parties to confirm they had contracted COVID-19.

On 16 March, Thomas Pringle, an independent TD representing the Donegal constituency, entered isolation due to previous contact with someone in Dublin and the high risk to his own personal health.[131][132]

On 18 March, Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, the independent MEP representing the Midlands–North-West constituency, announced that he and his family would begin self-isolating after his daughter exhibited symptoms of COVID-19.[133]

On 19 March, it was reported that Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy had been in self-isolation for the past week after returning from a visit abroad to see family. Murphy had set off before travel advice against doing so was issued and—while he had "not been in direct physical contact with any colleagues"—he, nevertheless, was well enough to continue his work remotely.[134]

On 23 March, Tánaiste Simon Coveney revealed he had tested negative for COVID-19. He underwent the test after being contact traced via the positive result of Claire Byrne, whom he had sat beside on live television less than two weeks previously.[135] It was believed that Coveney was the first member of the Varadkar cabinet to be tested for the virus.[136]

On 14 April (the day after the Easter Monday public holiday), President of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald confirmed she had tested positive for COVID-19.[137]

On 23 April, President of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald announced that she had recovered from COVID-19. She gave an interview to Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show the following night, in which one COVID-19 positive person interviewed another COVID-19 positive person for television viewers nationwide.[138][139]

On 3 June, it was revealed that Minister for Health Simon Harris had self-isolated for several days after developing symptoms of the virus; a test returned a negative result.[140]

On 15 September, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl announced that the entire government would have to restrict their movements after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly reported feeling unwell and contacted his GP for a COVID-19 test.[141][142][143] The Department of Health confirmed that Acting Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn was also restricting his movements as he had met members of the government on 14 September,[144][145][146] while Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne had gone into self-isolation after getting tested for COVID-19.[147][148] The Leader of the Green Party and Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport Eamon Ryan previously self-isolated while a member of his household awaited results of a COVID-19 test.[149] Just after 9pm, it was announced that Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly tested negative for COVID-19 and that the government no longer needed to restrict their movements.[150][151]

On 23 September, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe were among the three Cabinet ministers who began to restrict their movements under COVID-19 public health advice.[152] Varadkar was informed that he was a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19, and subsequently took a test which returned negative.[153][154] Coveney restricted his movements after attending meetings in Brussels, while Donohoe restricted his movements after attending a meeting of EU finance ministers in Berlin and subsequently took a test which returned negative.[155][156] Donohoe was deemed a close contact of Bruno Le Maire, the French Finance Minister, who tested positive for COVID-19 on 18 September.[157]

On 24 October, four Fine Gael senators (Tim Lombard, Jerry Buttimer, Emer Currie, Garret Ahearn) began self-isolating after two tested positive for COVID-19.[158][159]

On 17 December, Taoiseach Micheál Martin tested negative for COVID-19 following an announcement that he was restricting his movements after coming into close contact with French President Emmanuel Macron, who had tested positive for COVID-19.[160]

On 23 December, all ministers in the Government restricted their movements after it emerged that Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue had tested positive for COVID-19. McConalogue was tested after returning from Brussels on 17 December. The result was negative. He then went shopping in Dublin city centre hours ahead of a scheduled five-day follow-up COVID-19 test which led to the positive result McConalogue received "sometime between 10.30am and 11am" on 23 December. He displayed no symptoms and isolated in his native County Donegal.[161][162]

Shortly after 11 am on the morning of 6 January 2021, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced on Twitter that she had tested positive for COVID-19 but intended to work remotely while isolating.[163]

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