Opposition Mounts To 5 Month Extension Of Goverment's Emergency Covid Powers.

Tuesday, 25 May 2021 12:49

The Seanad has passed the legislation that would extend those measures- with a Dáil vote to come.

Opposition is growing in the Dáil to the government's plans to extend emergency COVID powers until November 9th.

The regulations give effect to many restrictions including mask wearing, bans on mass gatherings and requiring people to stay in their homes.

Our Political Correspondent Seán Defoe reports:

People Before Profit saying they’ll oppose the government bill to extend the emergency powers they have to enforce COVID restrictions. They believe pre-COVID garda powers are sufficient to police the pandemic from here pic.twitter.com/zqadwxpn9H
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) May 25, 2021

Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats are both calling for the extension to be shorter - according to Soc Dems co-leader Roisin Shortall:

Stephen Donnelly tells Seanad he will amend the new law extending COVID-19 emergency powers so that a three-month extension could be granted once and once only - as currently drafted they could be renewed every three months from November, Donnelly says now it will be once only
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) May 25, 2021

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