Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On Monday evening, Professor Philip Nolan said there had been indications in the previous ten days of accelerated progress in suppressing the virus. This resulted in a collective sigh of relief across the country and, in particular, among front-line healthcare workers. These people are mentally and physically exhausted as a result of the third wave of Covid-19 infection, which far exceeded the previous waves in hospitalisations and deaths. Now that the third wave is being suppressed, we must consider two actions for all front-line healthcare staff.

First, we must provide staff with time off because exhausted healthcare staff are a recipe for mistakes. We must recognise that this time off is imperative for their health. Second, we must give proper recognition to staff at the front line in the battle against Covid-19. For example, the Scottish Government is paying every NHS worker a bonus of £500. When I raised this with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, last month, he stated that the Taoiseach noted on 10 February that the Government would respond to the extraordinary efforts of front-line healthcare workers once the pandemic is behind us. All front-line workers, including those in other essential services, should receive an acknowledgement of their work throughout the pandemic from their employers. In particular, I believe that now is the right time for the Government to recognise the work of all front-line healthcare workers. Many doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, cleaners, porters and others place themselves at risk by going to work every day to keep us safe and to care for those who are seriously ill. These healthcare workers have worked long hours in extremely difficult circumstances through three waves of this pandemic. They have been selfless and the country owes them a debt of gratitude.

On Leaders' Questions last July, I said to the Taoiseach that if it was not possible to reward healthcare workers with pay increases or some form of bonus system, the minimum we should offer them is additional paid leave. It would be time to spend with their families, with whom they may have sacrificed precious family time, or time to recover from the physical and emotional tiredness they undoubtedly must be feeling. The Taoiseach was generous in his response stating:

The Government will examine the Deputy's suggestion and proposal. ... 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.

In the spirit of the Taoiseach's response last July, I sincerely ask him not to postpone this much-needed recognition until the end of the pandemic, but instead to move on the need for the recognition of healthcare workers now.

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