Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Front-line workers died from Covid, which they contracted while working. Many others got sick and some of them got long Covid. All suffered from stress, fatigue and mental health pressures for their services to society. Does the Minister intend to announce details of recognition payments in the budget? The Minister talked about the coming weeks but does he intend to announce it on or before budget day? What year does the Minister expect payments to start? The Minister mentioned costs of €377 million and €500 million. Is he considering the idea of a Covid wealth tax in the budget so that very high earners and corporations that made mega profits during the pandemic will be made to pay for this from the gains they made in the course of the pandemic, rather than any other sector of society paying for it?

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