Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Mary Butler. I am sharing this Commencement matter with Senator Eugene Murphy. We met with Annette, Cathy, Martina and Nora. These are all people who work in Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe. These are people who were on the front line all during the pandemic. They were our hospital warriors in the face of Covid-19. They were our warriors that went out every single day and left their families at home when we were asked to stay at home. When we were asked to keep people safe, they were asked to keep people safe by going to work. They put themselves on the line. These are contract cleaners and caterers. They work with Noonan's and Aramark, particularly in the Saolta University Hospital Group. They worked 12- or 14-hour shifts and they did what was asked of them, as many of us did. We came together as a country to fight this battle.

The pandemic recognition payment is a recognition by the Irish Government on behalf of the Irish people to staff who worked on the front line. We have an estimated 125,000 people, HSE and section 38 staff, who have now received this payment. Let me say again, it is a payment totally in recognition of the work that was done. However, a number of other categories remain. Our question here is what are the categories that are left? What about the clarification of contract cleaners and caterers for the pandemic health care payment? Are cleaners and caterers part of this? Do we have an estimate of the remaining payments and timelines now that we have a new provider? What is that going to be? I really appreciate the Minister of State's time on this. We really need to have fair and equal treatment for people who have worked so hard to keep everyone safe and to save lives. Members of my own family worked in cleaning. I have worked in cleaning. All through college I was involved in this kind of work. These people were on the front line for us. Go raibh maith agat.