Emergencies, Executive Power, and Ireland's Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

This chapter discusses the key restrictions Ireland enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on particular measures that most people in Ireland have experienced directly; namely, measures restricting a person's liberty and movements, and what businesses, events, and associations were permitted to operate. Like many states, Ireland enacted an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Irish Constitution does make express provision for a state of emergency to be declared by the Oireachtas. In addition to constitutional norms, Ireland is also a signatory to several international human rights treaties relevant to the state's response to the pandemic. In July 2020, the Irish Health Service Executive launched the CovidTracker App, which was designed to assist with track and trace efforts. In 2021, Ireland began its vaccination programme against COVID-19.