Ireland

Following the 2020 General Election, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party voted to go into government together in late-June. Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin has assumed the position of Taoiseach, taking over from Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar TD. The new government represents the first coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, which have held the position of Taoiseach between them since its establishment in 1937; the new allegiance was spurred in large part due to a significant decline in support for the parties as the repubilcan Sinn Féin won the second most seats in the election behind Fianna Fáil.

Since his appointment, Martin has continued the stringency of public health measures instigated by his predecessor Varadkar. Ireland introduced new public health measures on 15 September to restrict socializing as part of a new national Plan for Living with COVID-19 over the next six months. Schools will remain open in the lower levels of viral threat, and the framework will accommodate existing plans to spur economic growth – pubs, bar those in Dublin, will reopen as planned on 21 September, and up to 200 people will be allowed to attend outdoor events in large venues.