The Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency
Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (the "Act") was
passed by both houses of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament) and
was signed into law by the President on 20 March 2020.
Under the Act the Minister for Health (the "Minister")
has extensive powers to restrict the freedom of all individuals in
order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in Ireland.
The emergency measures underpin the Government's strategy of
protecting individuals' constitutional rights to life and to
bodily integrity.
The powers include:
(a) Restricting the movement of people;
(b) Designating 'affected areas' and severely
restricting travel to, from and within these areas;
