Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I am glad she brought up the principles of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 because I argue that the people we sent into our hospitals - I do not just mean nurses and doctors but healthcare assistants, cleaners, and housekeeping and catering staff - were not able to shelter in place. They were not able to stay at home and mind themselves like the rest of us. They had to go to work. Not only that, they often had to go to work with personal protective equipment that was less than appropriate. Although that was not just due to a failing of the State but because Covid was a pandemic, and we all understand there were difficulties, it is very hard to argue that people who are experiencing this post-viral condition did not contract it in the course of being continuously subjected to exposure to Covid-19 in their workplace in a way the rest of us were not.

I raised this issue earlier in the year, when I brought those principles to the attention of the Minister and the Minister of State. I highlighted that the EU Advisory Committee on Health and Safety at Work has recommended recognition of long Covid. At the time, I was told the Department would take that away and review it, in addition to consulting with the Minister for Health. Where are we with that?

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