4. Extension of emergency period

(1) The Government may, on the request of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government made—

(a) after consultation with the Minister for Health, and

(b) with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, from time to time, by order extend the emergency period for such period as they consider appropriate if they are satisfied that, having regard to—

(i) the threat to public health presented by Covid-19,

(ii) the highly contagious nature of that disease, and

(iii) the need to restrict the movement of persons in order to prevent the spread of the disease among the population,

the making of such order is in the public interest.

(2) Every order under this Part shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House sits after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.