Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

Let us see what the code of practice is. I wonder whether there is a need for a primary legislative framework for there to be real, substantial sanctions on employers that do not provide clean air for their workers. Belgium, for example, which has been one of the first movers on this in the EU, is currently introducing something quite similar to our Workplace Ventilation (Covid-19) Bill.

Has the Department any idea of how many people who have long Covid were infected in their workplace? Will the Department change its policy of refusing to classify Covid as an occupational illness? The Oireachtas Library and Research Service estimated last January that there could be around 115,000 people in Ireland suffering from long Covid. We will add more people to that list over the course of the coming winter and many of them will have picked Covid and long Covid up in their workplaces in poorly ventilated buildings.

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