Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question and presentation. I agree with him, particularly on the contribution that front-line health service staff and those in the background have made to the fight against Covid-19, effectively contributing to the suppression of the virus for now and to a very low level of community transmission. I also share the Deputy's admiration for the work of Dr. Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer, and the calm leadership he gave. We all wish him the very best at this time, as we do to the previous Taoiseach and the previous Minister for Health.

Without question, healthcare workers, especially in the acute hospital setting in the early phase of Covid-19, put themselves at risk for the betterment of their fellow citizens. We saw in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme the intensity of that commitment and of that contribution and the considerable emotional trauma that went with it in the additional duties that nursing staff and doctors had to take on to communicate with families who could not be near their loved ones. It also illustrates the value of a strong and good-quality public service, which is something we should never underestimate in this country. In a time of crisis, it is the State, fundamentally, that intervenes through the quality and expertise of its public service.

In the first instance, that is why the Government has committed to honouring, notwithstanding the enormous financial difficulties the State will be in, the pay agreements that will fall due in the autumn. It is to recognise the contribution of the public service in general to helping the country come through Covid-19 and it also applies to An Garda Síochána and other front-line workers, as well as those in retail and so on who also came to the front line to help people.

The Government will examine the Deputy's suggestion and proposal. I cannot make commitments here today but I will discuss it with others. I am conscious of the point the Deputy raised and the importance of recognition of people who went to exceptional lengths to help people on an individual basis and, by so doing, helped the country at large to get through this crisis.

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