Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I also thank him for his very kind welcome to the students from Tara Hill national school. I also wish to formally second the proposal of my colleague, Senator O’Loughlin.

I agree with Senator Gavan on the pandemic payments. I have raised this issue with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who cannot figure out why these payments are not being made. The money was set aside for it and I must very much question the HSE inefficiency in this regard. This does not just involve the workers who Senator Gavan has talked about but I also wish to raise the case of those who are employed in section 38 and section 39 organisations, for whom money was also set aside. Again, there was an expectation where they equally put their lives at risk and yet there has been no progress on this.

In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, I know he is scratching his head as to why this has not been paid. This speaks to the need for a broader debate, not just around this specific payment but around the functioning of the HSE. We have all experienced difficulties where we do not know how the decision-making process operates within the organisation. It is not accountable and this has been one of the challenges facing successive Ministers for Health. There is a need for a broader debate on that question.

I also wish to raise – and I appreciate these are private hospitals - the decisions of some private hospitals not to make payments to some of their staff. I also appreciate the State cannot force private hospitals to make such payments but some of the staff working in private hospitals did the same work as those who were working in public hospitals. Nevertheless, these private hospitals have made the decision not to make a payment. It is important that we send out a very clear message that we feel, in solidarity with what happened, that those in the private sector should also take action in that regard.