The proposed legislation is being brought to Cabinet for approval on Tuesday by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan

The workers missed out on the bonus payments after their employer issued the five with final written warnings last year over the non-wearing of masks.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the Government would look at whether mandatory mask laws would be needed later on in the year

A Government source insisted there is no intention to table the legislation in the Dáil before the summer recess

Dr Gerald Barry has said it is now too late to bring back mandatory mask-wearing