Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank front-line workers for their service in difficult circumstances since this pandemic landed on our shores almost 11 months ago. The definition of a front-line worker has rightly expanded to include all workers who kept vital services going, not just hospital workers. We are grateful for their efforts. Bad as things have been, they could have been much worse had it not been for the workers' sacrifices. Their roles are too many to list and, at the risk of leaving anyone out, I will not do so. The people of Ireland are appreciative and it is time for the Government to show its appreciation. Applauding their efforts is welcome but it does not pay the bills. We need to pay our student nurses. There should be no more token gestures but a fair day's wage for a fair day's work.

We need to ensure that we learn the lessons that this pandemic has taught us. Our workers deserve better. We need to work towards having a living wage. We need affordable housing and healthcare. There is no point in achieving a living wage if the cost of living erodes it. We also need to look at the quality of life and climate action lessons that Covid has taught us. A shorter working week and working from home for those who can do it are ideas that need further exploration. With more opportunities for exercise, we need to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place in order that it can be done safely.

Older people bore the brunt of the pandemic in its early stages and many are still bearing it. They were disproportionately affected and many died needlessly. A public inquiry must be established to investigate and report on all circumstances relating to each individual death from Covid-19. We need to develop a network of publicly owned and operated nursing homes. Experience has shown that our over-reliance on the private sector has been ill-judged, which does not just apply to nursing homes. We also need to support older people who wish and are able to live in their own homes or the homes of family members. I do not mean throwing a pittance to family carers and leaving them to it. I know what that is like since I was a family carer and I can tell the Ceann Comhairle that €219 per week does not cut it. We need a proper support network for older people and their carers, a holistic approach to their mental and physical health and greater support for public health nurses to assist people and for social workers to assist older people in getting what they are entitled to.

I express the concerns of section 39 organisations. They provide vital services in our communities and are reliant on fundraising to ensure the viability of this service. With no opportunities for fundraising, we need to increase funding to them to ensure that these services survive. I feel that they deserve nothing less.

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