Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On 11 June, the European Parliament took a decision to include Covid-19 in the definition of biological hazard as encompassed by the biological hazards directive. It would seem, therefore, that the decision has already been taken at European level. It is a very simple request - that the Minister of State make the necessary amendment to regulation 224 of the safety, health and welfare at work general application, amendment, regulations. He has the power to do it. I understand and respect that he will wait for the report and the review, but this issue has been ongoing for some time. With the greatest respect, we should have that report and subsequent action on it without any further delay. As the Tánaiste pointed out in the previous reply, we do not have a crystal ball when it comes to this virus. In all likelihood we will face more waves of it, so we must put contingency measures in place now to ensure workers are protected to the greatest extent possible.

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