Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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188. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans he has to show his appreciation for all front-line workers under his remit other than a clap on the back; if he is planning a bonus, gratuity payment for all those workers who have been struggling and worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic; if so, when this will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39616/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Workers across the economy, including of course our public servants, have made, and continue to make, an extraordinary contribution during the COVID pandemic and I would like to pay tribute to them.

Notwithstanding the sacrifices and efforts of the last year or more and the progress we have made in recent months to roll out vaccines, this pandemic remains an ongoing challenge for us all and it continues, for now, to require our full focus and attention.

Accordingly, while this is not yet, I believe, the most appropriate time to deal with this matter, the Government will consider in due course how best to recognise the efforts made by workers during this pandemic.