Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

There is no intention not to recognise that or to not be empathetic, which is why the scheme for full pay was there for five years. I am aware that the Minister for Social Protection has reviewed the EU recommendation in respect of the recognition of Covid-19, not long Covid, for an occupational illness. Following that review, it was determined that Covid-19 did not meet the requirements to be recognised as an occupational illness in the context of the occupational injuries benefit scheme and the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.

It is important to recognise that the EU advisory committee on health and safety recommended the recognition of Covid-19 and not long Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care settings. As I said, the Minister for Social Protection reviewed those recommendations and did not recognise it in the context of the occupational injuries benefit scheme. While many EU countries recognised Covid-19 as an occupational illness or injury, this related to Covid-19 and not long Covid. It is not clear that any country sustained full pay for workers suffering from long Covid in the same way Ireland has for its public health workers through the special scheme we have had to date.

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