Written answers
Thursday, 28 September 2023
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Covid-19 Pandemic
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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208. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 712 of 25 July 2023, the status of her Department's consideration of the European Commission's recommendation to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness; if she has concluded her engagements with other Departments and Ministers; the timeline she is working towards in making her decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42008/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware of the recommendation of the European Commission made in 2022 regarding the prescription of Covid-19 as an occupational illness. However, the decision on whether or not to recognise an illness as an occupational illness is a Member State competence. It should be noted that recognition confers very different entitlements in different countries.
As this matter has implications beyond my department, I am in consultation with other relevant departments and Ministers, and the responses received are under consideration.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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