Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Naughten for raising this issue. I will speak, as the Deputy himself has, on the next two amendments together.

I am not prepared to accept the first amendment, and I will explain that shortly, but I am prepared and happy to do a report. My Department is monitoring the work and the recommendations of the European Commission in this regard, and I understand the Commission has published its recommendations on occupational diseases this very week. I can assure the Deputies that my Department and the other Government bodies concerned will give very careful consideration to the Commission recommendation, which I have not seen myself.

The Deputy’s proposed amendment provides for the inclusion in the definition of the medical examination the terms “virological” and “bacteriological”, and I am happy to consider that in the context of the report. The report will require consultation with the stakeholders, the Department of Health and the Health and Safety Authority, following consideration of the EU Commission’s recommendations. I am not averse to arranging for such a report to be conducted and I assure the Deputy I will do that. The Chief Medical Officer of my Department, however, has warned that because Covid-19 was so widespread, adding long Covid as an occupational illness in the Statute Book could be difficult. We are happy to look at it. Conducting a report on this important issue is timely and I will be happy to do that. As part of that report, I will look specifically at the Deputy’s proposal and I am happy to see what we can do at that stage. If we change this legislation now before we do the report, that would, in a manner of speaking, be putting the cart before the horse. As I have said, I am happy to do the report and to take into consideration the Deputy's proposed amendment. I will talk to the Minister for Health and to the Chief Medical Officer.

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