"I wanted to take this opportunity to address you directly as a member of Fórsa trade union at this time of crisis for all citizens. The events of the last two weeks are without precedent, and are an understandable source of anxiety for our members and their families. With so many of our members working in public services they are, in lots of different ways, at the very coal face of the response to Covid-19."

Developments in the aviation industry continue to illustrate the hard hitting effect of the Covid-19 crisis. As various companies in aviation continue to develop cost-saving and contingency measures, Fórsa officials continue to talk to employers about optimum measures to protect jobs.

Fórsa has called on employers across the economy to ensure that social distancing is maintained to the greatest possible extent in workplaces, including those where customers and clients must be present to access services.

Weekend newspaper reports suggested that the Government was considering a generous wage-subsidy scheme – similar to that introduced in Denmark – to assist workers at risk of lay-offs on foot of the coronavirus.

A new blog post from the union-backed Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) says the Government should put up billions in income supports and other emergency economic measures in response to the Covid-19 crisis.