(1) The weekly rates of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment shall be the amounts corresponding to the amounts set out in Part 6 of Schedule 2 or such weekly rates as may be prescribed in regulations under this section.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) -

(a) the manner in which the average reckonable weekly income of a claimant is calculated shall be prescribed in regulations under this section, and

(b) the Minister may make regulations providing for the manner in which the average reckonable weekly income of a claimant shall be calculated.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in this Act, the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, by regulation increase or decrease the weekly rates referred to in subsection (1) and may provide that different rates of payment shall be payable in line with the provision of any such regulations.

(4) When making regulations under this section the Minister shall have regard to the following:

(a) the policies and objectives of the Government to mitigate the adverse economic effects of the spread of the disease known as Covid-19 through the supports available to both individuals and businesses;