Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Naughten as an rún seo a chur chun tosaigh inniu. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach. The first time that long Covid was highlighted to me was approximately two years ago. When I heard about it, it really knocked me for six when the woman in question detailed how much it had impacted on her life. Ever since then, I have raised the issue in this Chamber and through parliamentary questions because the people who have been suffering from long Covid have raised it with me. I commend all those people and the campaign groups who have continued to keep this on the agenda.

We know, of course, that Covid-19 caused a global pandemic. People everywhere recognise the severity of the virus. Now we see that some of those people who, when we were told we could stay at home, had to go out to work, whether it was in healthcare settings, stocking shelves in our supermarkets or in our factories, providing vital services on which we relied in order that we could stay at home and stay safe, are suffering from long Covid as a result of that work. They feel totally forgotten about now.

We all know people who have been affected and impacted by long Covid. I wish to read out something one woman told me about her experiences with long Covid. She said:

The worst thing about having Long covid is that nobody can tell you when you will recover.

If you have a broken limb you know it can take 6 weeks to heal, a chest infection can take a week with antibiotics but with long covid there is no magic pill and no time frame for recovery.

You cut back on expenses as much as you can but still can barely manage.

And it gets you down as you can't plan anything as you don't know when you'll be well again and able to return to work and have your normal income back.

And worrying about bills etc causes more stress which exacerbates your already debilitating symptoms.

We know how difficult people with long Covid are having it and we need to listen to what they are asking for. It is really good we are having this discussion but, really, we needed to have it two years ago. It is far too late to be having it. We need to act on this now because so many people are not able to get the help and supports they need and they are really struggling.

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