Emergency legislation debated in the Dáil described as 'Sláintecare on speed'

Minister Charlie Flanagan, standing in for Minister Simon Harris today, said that the new legislation would 'remove the legal barriers for those wishing to return to the Irish health service'

The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020 introduces special measures to aid the fight against Covid-19.

The new laws will see a raft of new measures that will transform Ireland's health service temporarily, including the state taking over private hospitals, and the treating of both private and public patients for free.