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Many well-known clothing brands and retailers have responded to the COVID-19 crisis by cancelling orders, or by demanding retroactive price reductions for goods already in production or completed. This is leading to large-scale dismissals of garment workers in developing countries, and to the inability of many companies in these countries to pay their workers. Many of these workers already work for low wages in poor conditions. With little or no social protection, this loss of income leaves garment workers and their families in an incredibly vulnerable position.

All plans for recovery from the present crisis must ensure that the economy and society are treated equally and addressed simultaneously.  Analysing the Stability Programme Update (SPU) recently published by Government and reflecting on the commentary on its implications, it is clear that Ireland is in danger of repeating the mistakes of the past.  One of the major lessons to be learned from the crisis of 2008/9 and the subsequent recovery is that giving priority to the economy over all else simply leads to some parts of society doing very well while great swathes are left further and further behind.

It is clear that tax policy will play a vital role both in the immediate Government response to support people and businesses, and in rebuilding our society and economy once the worst of the health impacts are contained.  The new Government has an opportunity to reform and broaden our tax base and lay the foundations to increase our total tax take now to ensure we are well prepared to meet any future shocks.  We have a once in a generation opportunity to build a new society, a new economy and a new country that reflects the lessons we have learned in recent weeks. 

Fundamental Human Rights are enshrined in our Constitution and detailed in our laws.  At a time of crisis, emergency powers can be a necessary tool to ensure that society stays safe and that decisions can be made quickly to respond to emerging issues.  However, the two are not mutually exclusive.  Emergency powers must be proportionate, and be interpreted in the interest of human rights and the common good.  They should also be time-limited to ensure that, once the crisis passes, these exceptional powers that, even necessarily, impact on our fundamental freedoms are revoked. 

This legislation introducing emergency powers to respond to COVID-19 confers wide-ranging powers on Government and State operators at a significant cost to the Exchequer.  Here we provide a brief overview of what they are and what they are expected to cost.