Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha:

I acknowledge the Senator's note of thanks. To address Deputy Bríd Smith's question, none of our members will hear it as a hollow gesture. They appreciate the supports they get from the public and all parties who say that their contribution has been extraordinary. We ask that the committee support our call, which was lodged last November, for compensation for them for how they have gone over and above and delivered in excess even when doing so was very difficult for them.

The point we make about schools is that, when a decision was made by the Government to close them based on public health advice and for a variety of reasons, that was fine. We are not making comment on that. Rather, we are saying that the Government cannot make that decision and then abandon a force of what it calls "essential workers" and require them to turn up to work without providing a plan B. It has not been thought through. That is our criticism. Many in the healthcare workforce have family responsibilities - 72% are female, and in our case 92% of nurses and 97% of midwives are female.

When schools are removed at short enough notice, it is simply irresponsible. It abandons the workforce and actually imposes a cost on them. As my colleague, Mr. Fitzpatrick, pointed out, this has now very definitely been presented as, "That is your own problem. Sort it out."