Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1587. To ask the Minister for Health if insurance companies are deemed an essential service during the Covid-19 pandemic; if so, if this means staff must be office-based as opposed to working from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1042/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In its letter of 11 November, the NPHET recommended that the Government consider re-instating previous advice to work from home where possible. This advice was accepted by Government and public health measures in place at present include a recommendation that everyone should work from home unless it is necessary to attend the workplace in person.

The emergence of the Omicron variant requires a renewed and enhanced emphasis by all sectors and organisations on ensuring widespread compliance with, and adherence to, measures which will protect the public and employees. As outlined in the NPHET letter of 16 December, employers should accommodate employees to work from home where their attendance on site is not essential. For those who must attend workplaces in person, there should be ongoing communication to employers and employees regarding protective measures in the Work Safely Protocol e.g. staggered shifts and breaks, appropriate mask wearing, not attending if symptomatic, pod system for staff, and mitigation measures if sharing transportation. This letter can be viewed online www.gov.ie/en/collection/ba4aa0-letters-from-the-cmo-to-the-minister-for-health/#letters-from-2022

The Work Safely Protocol can be viewed online www.gov.ie/en/publication/22829a-return-to-work-safely-protocol/