Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response.

I said at the outset that these people - domestics, porters and other staff affected by this - are deeply disappointed that they have been overlooked. It is fair to say that many of these people are not on the highest grades to begin with.Many of them will be struggling financially, like many other people, to make ends meet. From a simple base, I find it difficult to understand how such an important cog in a wheel and such an important member of the hospital team has been left out. We can talk about methodology and all the rest until the cows come home but these people have been left behind. They put their shoulders to the wheel, as many other health professionals did, during the pandemic. Now, it would appear that through this process they are being forgotten. It is deeply unfair. I ask that the Government, the Minister for Health and others look at this again so that these people will be included, as they are entitled to be.