Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 85 measures in Ireland in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Supporting businesses to stay afloat with 25 cases (29%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Roisin Farelly (IRN Publishing) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
06 May 2020 |
Measures to deploy a larger workforce in public healthcare and allow for the reassignment of public sector staff and teachers to other duties
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
23 June 2022 |
The National Skills Database
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Bipartite collective agreements |
12 April 2021 |
New public service agreement concluded against background of pandemic
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Company practices |
07 February 2021 |
Manufacturing companies pay bonus to employees working onsite
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Other initiatives or policies |
20 May 2022 |
Changes to employment arrangements will benefit 1,800 non-EEA doctors
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
23 April 2020 Updated |
Temporary COVID-19 wage subsidy scheme
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
17 July 2020 |
Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS)
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
18 September 2020 Updated |
New wage subsidy scheme (EWSS) is less generous, but fiscally more sustainable
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
05 January 2023 |
Social Insurance Fund (SIF)
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Bipartite collective agreements |
30 November 2020 |
COVID-19 recovery agreement for pilots at Aer Lingus
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Other initiatives or policies |
23 May 2022 Updated |
Pilot basic income for the arts scheme aims to address earnings instability
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
26 April 2020 Updated |
Trading online voucher scheme
Creation of platforms for businesses aimed at customer |
26 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 online retail scheme
Creation of platforms for businesses aimed at customer |
23 June 2022 |
IDA Ireland
Matching/networking |
23 June 2022 |
Enterprise Ireland
Change of production/innovation |
23 June 2022 |
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs)
Change of production/innovation |
23 June 2022 |
Workplace Innovation Toolkit
Change of production/innovation |
23 June 2022 Updated |
SME Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS)
Change of production/innovation |
Other initiatives or policies |
11 July 2021 |
Funding for the digital transformation of tourism activities and attractions
Creation of platforms for businesses aimed at customer |
23 June 2022 |
Skillnet Ireland
Matching/networking |
23 June 2022 |
Innovation voucher programme
Change of production/innovation |
23 June 2022 |
Going for Growth
Matching/networking |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
12 April 2021 Updated |
National Remote Work Strategy aims to make remote working a permanent option after the pandemic
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Bipartite collective agreements |
12 October 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 safety protocols agreed in the construction sector
Occupational health and safety |
12 October 2020 |
Agreement on safety protocols for meat industry
Occupational health and safety |
30 November 2020 |
Four year emergency agreement concluded at Ryanair
Changes in work organisation |
30 November 2020 |
Dublin Airport restructuring plan
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
Tripartite agreements |
24 July 2020 Updated |
Return to Work Safely Protocol
Occupational health and safety |
Company practices |
07 February 2021 |
Ervia: Agile work programme aided move to remote working during pandemic
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 July 2021 |
New code of practice on right to disconnect
Well-being of workers |
Other initiatives or policies |
01 December 2020 |
Online mental health service launched for frontline workers
Well-being of workers |
07 October 2021 |
New policy on 'blended working' in the civil service published
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
25 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payment introduced
Income support for unemployed |
25 April 2020 Updated |
Increased illness benefit for COVID-19 absences
Paid sick leave |
13 July 2021 Updated |
New statutory sick leave to be introduced from 2022
Paid sick leave |
Other initiatives or policies |
13 July 2021 Updated |
Agreement on terms of reference for report on move to Living Wage
Other |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
06 May 2020 Updated |
Restrictions on evictions and rent freezes for landlords
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
23 May 2022 Updated |
Ukrainian refugees have full access to labour market, social services and benefits under Temporary Protection Directive
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
Other initiatives or policies |
28 June 2022 |
Measures introduced to support Ukrainian refugees access education
Access to childcare and education |
21 February 2023 |
Healthy Ireland Ukrainian Resilience Fund
Other humanitarian measures |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
09 November 2020 |
New tax credit introduced to encourage spending in hospitality sector
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
14 October 2021 |
Budget for 2022 includes a number of measures to aid recovery
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
23 June 2022 |
Enterprise Ireland Mentor Network
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Skills for growth
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Other initiatives or policies |
07 July 2020 Updated |
Grant for restarting small businesses introduced
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
04 September 2020 Updated |
Apprenticeship incentivisation scheme
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
12 October 2020 |
Government announces extra funds for carers and people with disabilities
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
11 November 2020 |
July stimulus aims to assist businesses and people get back to work
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
12 April 2021 |
New Outdoor Dining Funding Scheme Launched
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
13 July 2021 |
Economic Recovery Plan
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
13 July 2021 |
New Pathways to Work strategy as part of National Recovery Plan
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
14 October 2021 |
Funding package and supports for Tourism, Arts & Culture announced in Budget
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
13 January 2022 |
Additional funding announced to support live performance sector
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
14 January 2022 |
New annual grant for apprenticeship employers
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
19 May 2022 |
Gender-based funding for apprenticeships
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
19 May 2022 |
Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme for all Irish households
Support for energy bills |
14 September 2022 |
Minimum wage to be increased by 80c from January 2023
Increasing income in general |
25 October 2022 |
New €600 electricity credit for domestic households
Support for energy bills |
Bipartite collective agreements |
23 May 2022 |
Revised public sector pay agreement concluded amid cost of living concerns
Increasing income in general |
Other initiatives or policies |
23 May 2022 |
Government launches €505 million cost of living package
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
Article12 September 2022
Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Article12 September 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
Article5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.