Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the Government will “adapt” if a fourth wave means that businesses will have to close either nationwide or in local lockdowns. Speaking after the launch of the National Economic Plan, he told Independent.ie at Dublin Castle that the Government will respond with additional supports if there are additional lockdowns, local or national. “If [the pandemic] gets worse we will adjust, we will adapt and respond in terms of having different economic measures,” he said. With the window of pandemic supports like the PUP and EWSS, Mr Martin denied that these are austerity measures. The pandemic unemployment payment was a measure brought in at the height of our public health emergency,” Mr Donohoe said.

Source: Irish Independent June 01, 2021 14:06 UTC