Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I share the Senator's frustrations. I assure him that all those eligible will receive their payments, though I accept that it has not been very quickly delivered. Department of Health officials are working hard to roll this payment out as soon as possible and the Minister looks forward to this progressing very shortly.

Getting back to the original point about recognising that so many people put their lives at risk to support our nation and our citizens through the Covid pandemic, it is worth remembering that from February of next year a new permanent public holiday will be established to mark Imbolc, or St. Brigid's Day. This new bank holiday will serve as recognition and a permanent reminder to us of all those people's efforts and sacrifices during the last few difficult years.