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

That benefit is available for a further ten weeks if a person is medically certified as being diagnosed with Covid-19. In a minority of cases where people continue to be sick after ten weeks they can apply for the standard illness benefit payment and can receive it for up to two years. We have extended this for people living in direct provision as well.

The Deputy has missed the point that we recognise the need to look at the broader issue of a sustainable sick pay regime in Ireland and, therefore, we are anxious to work with the Deputy's party on getting agreeable legislative proposals to make it happen.

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