Irish government response to the COVID-19 pandemic

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.

[13] 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.

[14][15][16] 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.

[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".

[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.

[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.

[66][67] On 23 February, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced the extension of Level 5 lockdown restrictions for another six weeks until 5 April (Easter Monday) at the earliest as the Government published its new revised Living with COVID-19 plan called "The Path Ahead", which included the phased reopening of schools and childcare and the extension of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme.

[74] Under the new guidelines, there would be no time limits for customers, closing time would be set at 11:30 pm, up to six adults would be allowed sit at tables, the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) would be the primary evidence for proof of immunity, all customers would have to show photo ID, with an online QR code scanner developed to verify people's DCCs.

[78] After a sudden rise in COVID-19 figures, on 19 October, the Government published a revised plan for the easing of restrictions on 22 October, with nightclubs allowed to reopen, the return of normal trading hours in pubs and restaurants, no attendance limits on weddings and religious ceremonies and 100% capacity allowed at sporting venues, while the continued use of masks, vaccine certificates and social distancing measures would remain in place until at least February 2022.

[81] On 3 December, the Government reintroduced a series of measures that would commence from 7 December to 9 January amid concerns of the Omicron variant, with nightclubs to close, bars and restaurants to revert to six adults per table and no multiple table bookings allowed, indoor cultural and sporting events to operate at 50% capacity, a maximum of four households allowed to meet indoors, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to be reinstated and the requirement of vaccination certificates extended to gyms, leisure centres and hotel bars.

[84] Remaining restrictions were lifted on 28 February;[85] when announcing the change in policy on 21 January, Taoiseach Martin said "it is time to be ourselves again" and admitted that "the pandemic isn't over" and that "it will still require all of us to be vigilant.

[96] Major facilities were put in place in Cork, Dublin, Waterford, Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Athlone, with smaller centres in Mullingar, Longford, Ennis, Nenagh, Bantry and Tralee.

[108][109] On 14 August, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys opened applications for the newly revamped Enterprise Support Grant, designed to assist people who transitioned from the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment into self-employment since 18 May.

[110] The Enterprise Support Grant was worth up to €1,000 per person and is aimed at sole traders such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters and taxi drivers, who did not pay commercial rates.

[111] On 3 September, as part of the July Jobs Stimulus, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin launched the Stay and Spend Scheme to help drive sales in the hospitality sector during the off-season which has been negatively impacted as a result of COVID-19, which will run from 1 October 2020 to 30 April 2021.

[112] The scheme provided a maximum of €125 in income tax credits to tax-payers who spent up to €625 in restaurants, pubs, hotels, B&Bs and other qualifying businesses.

[121] 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.

[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.

[131] On 22 August 2020, four men were arrested after around 500 people attended an anti-lockdown rally organised by the Yellow Vests Ireland group at Custom House Quay in Dublin.