Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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83. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment if Covid-19 will be recognised as an occupational illness in view of the fact that healthcare workers make up almost one fifth of Covid-19 cases in Ireland; the analysis his Department has carried out into the impact of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41936/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There are already established reporting mechanisms in place for COVID-19 infections in Ireland.  All COVID-19 infections are firstly reported to Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and to Health Protection Surveillance Centre/Health Service Executive, as with other public health infectious diseases.

The current reporting obligation on employers under occupational safety and health legislation is such that employers are required to report to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) all workplace accidents that result in more than 3 days' absence. This requirement to report does not apply to infectious disease, other illnesses or mental health impairment as it is not always possible to directly attribute these health conditions to that workplace.  As COVID-19 is an infectious disease which can be caught in any location, it cannot always be reliably associated with a work activity.

Reporting mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the HSA is made aware of workplace clusters of COVID-19 through an agreement with the HSE to share information on COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces especially in high-risk sectors. The HSA also participates on national and local outbreak teams which enables it to respond to particular workplace clusters.

Importantly , the Biological Agents regulations have now been updated to specifically include SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. This creates a strict reporting obligation on employers to report the infection of workers exposed to the virus as part of certain work activities. We have all made huge sacrifices to limit the spread of the virus, but none so much as our healthcare workers and those that work in our labs, processing tests and researching the virus. These new regulations are designed to put in place even more protections for workers who are employed in those settings to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep them safe. 

The HSA is currently preparing a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on the matter of making COVID-19 a reportable illness to the authority. The RIA will assess the feasibility and impact of introducing a statutory requirement for employers to report to the HSA, infections of COVID-19 that are attributable to work activity.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the engagement he has had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland in relation to cross-Border shopping trips in view of the respective Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41147/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Employment, I have engaged with my counterparts in Northern Ireland at meetings of the North South Ministerial Council in July and November. We discussed measures in place to support communities and businesses on both sides of the border but did not specifically discuss cross-border shopping trips. 

Retailers in Ireland are key partners in the effort to suppress the virus and are playing a critical role in the national response to COVID-19.  Government are fully engaged with the sector and aware of their efforts to serve their customers and adhere to public health guidelines. 

I and my colleague Minister of State Damien English TD met with the Retail Forum members on 21 October to remind those in the retail sector, of the need for strict adherence to the public health guidelines during Level 5.  Minister English has continued to convene regular retail meetings.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) ‘The National Return to Work Safely Protocol’ provides a guidance for businesses in making their assessments and adapting their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures. It sets out in very clear terms for employers and workers the steps that they must take firstly before a workplace reopens, and then while it continues to operate.  The Protocol is available on www.gov.ie. The HSA is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the Protocol in the workplace.  If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie

In addition, the National Safety Authority of Ireland have also produced two guidance documents, one for the retail Sector ‘COVID-19 Retail Protection and Improvement Guide’ and one for Shopping Centres ‘COVID-19 Shopping Centre Recovery and Protection Guide’.  Both documents can be found on nsai.ie.

Government Departments, local authorities and agencies were firmly focused on ensuring a smooth, safe and enjoyable reopening of non-essential retail on the 1^stDecember.  In tandem with this my Department held extensive and constructive engagement with retailers and shopping centres in developing and promoting the governments shop safely message.