Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. We had a good engagement with the INMO and SIPTU earlier regarding healthcare workers. The evidence is there about the level of engagement with the INMO, in particular, in respect of 18 May, which was the date on which childcare was supposed to be provided for front-line workers. I contend that there was a failure on the part of the State to live up to its promise to deliver for those workers. It is incumbent on us to acknowledge that there was a failure in respect of those people. Do the witnesses acknowledge that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and all Departments failed those front-line workers? There is a major issue whereby it considerably added to the stress and strain placed on those workers in trying to do their jobs. These people had a legitimate expectation, which was preannounced in the context of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, that they would have access to those childcare facilities but this never happened. Should we not now acknowledge that there was a failure on the part of the State towards those people? Do they not deserve an apology for that or some acknowledgement of the failure to which I refer?