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

I thank the Taoiseach. Fifteen months ago, our nursing homes and hospitals received their first Covid-19 patients. Since then, front-line healthcare workers have managed three waves of the virus and a cyberattack. These people are now mentally and physically exhausted. We must provide staff with time off because exhausted healthcare staff are a recipe for mistakes. We must give proper recognition to staff on the front line in the battle against Covid-19. For example, the Scottish Government is paying every NHS worker a bonus of £500. Over the past year, I have consistently raised with the Taoiseach and other members of the Government the issue of recognising front-line workers. They have been selfless and the country owes them a great debt of gratitude. The Government must now recognise their efforts.

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