Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will further review the pandemic recognition payment for Defence Forces personnel who worked in test centres to make sure all deserving individuals received the payment, given that some did not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22112/24]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to Defence Forces personnel who worked in Covid testing and vaccination centres during the pandemic. Many of these people worked in these centres for 12 to 16 months and provided a very valuable resource but they have not been considered for the pandemic recognition payment. This is wrong. Can the matter be reviewed? Some specific personnel did great work but did not get the payment and that is very unfair.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As he will know, in January 2022, the Government announced a Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. At Government level, the Department of Health has primary policy responsibility for this initiative, having received the consent of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as it was then. The payment is not subject to income tax, USC or PRSI. The Government announcement also made provision for a pro rata application of the payment. The payment amounts to €1,000 for those eligible staff who worked at least 60% whole-time equivalent for at least four weeks during the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021 and €600 for those who worked below 60% whole-time equivalent. Those who worked less than four weeks are not within the scope of the measure.

The measure is ring-fenced to eligible staff who were ordinarily on-site in Covid-19 exposed healthcare environments during the pandemic. As it relates to Defence Forces personnel, this means members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE. I understand that work to identify all Covid-related duties undertaken by members of the Defence Forces has been completed by military management in order to identify personnel who may be eligible for this recognition payment.

It is important to note that ultimate interpretation of the scheme was a matter for the Minister for Health with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The validation and subsequent payment of the recognition payment to those members of the Defence Forces deemed eligible and therefore in line for payment have been processed by the Department of Defence based on information supplied by military management, a process which went on from October 2022 to the end of 2023. I am assured that all members of the Defence Forces deemed within scope for payment of the recognition payment have received their payments and I have been advised that there are no outstanding cases. If the Deputy knows of some outstanding cases, perhaps we can discuss them in the time ahead.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps, on foot of this question, the Tánaiste might initiate a review. My understanding is that all members were initially on lists created by their units but that those lists were not fully accepted at a higher level. Apparently, the criteria specified that only those military personnel who were physically administering vaccines or taking swabs would ultimately receive the payment. The people who were not picked up included those who spent more than a year directing traffic through centres at Defence Forces sites, those who were directly engaging with people at the gates of testing centres and those who were looking after the stock on site. None of these were considered. I was in those testing centres during the pandemic. We can be proud of the way our military personnel conducted their operations. I have spoken to some since and it is a shame that some were overlooked. In the interests of fairness, the matter could be reviewed. It would be very fair to reconsider these people.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will have a look at the situation again to satisfy myself as to how the process was conducted and I will revert then.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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Further people involved include those directly in contact with the healthcare workers on site. Patient transfer teams were not considered. These people did similar jobs to people in ambulance teams bringing people for tests who needed to be transported. For example, the Tralee testing centre was manned by military personnel for 12 to 16 months, including Christmas and all public holidays. I was in there many times with family members and for tests myself. It was an efficient operation and the Tánaiste would be proud of the way everything was conducted. Some people feel hurt they were not included in the scheme. Sometimes with red tape and bureaucracy people slip through the net. I hope it would not be too difficult to revisit and put right.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It was very challenging all round to demarcate those entitled to payments across all public services. A total of 717 Defence Forces personnel were deemed eligible and have been paid the full €1,000 pandemic recognition payment. It is not an inconsiderable number. Both Permanent Defence Forces representative associations on two separate occasions issued information circulars to their respective members requesting those who believe themselves eligible for the payment to engage with the joint task force.

The Department is confident all those eligible have received the payment. The Department fully examined all cases for the pandemic recognition payment over a protracted period of 18 months. An extensive validation process took place, including engagement with the Defence Forces joint task force - that was the unit responsible for the deployment of personnel - to include the recording of duties undertaken during the Covid pandemic by defence personnel.

This has not been raised with me prior to today. I will discuss it with my officials again to make absolutely sure.