Ms Anne Marie Hoey:

The public health advice has always been clear in terms of staff self-isolating in the event that they have symptoms and are awaiting testing. In terms of the payment of premiums and overtime, these would not normally be paid when staff are on sick leave. The issue is a broader one for the wider public service and Civil Service. The unions have in fact referred this issue to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, and the case is being heard there. We await the outcome of the case, but it comes back to a public pay policy issue. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is the lead Department in that regard.