The Government are ignoring front line workers from the Covid pandemic who contracted the disease at work according to a local TD. Independent Roscommon Galway TD Denis Naughten says a decision by the Minister for Social Protection opposing the designation of Covid-19 as an occupational illness is a 'cop out.' The majority of European countries have made the move already, which gives those suffering with long covid, who contracted the disease at work, certain entitlements with social welfare payments.
Minister Heather Humphries has said that it was unclear to her how it could be proven with reasonable certainty that an applicant had contracted Covid at work. Deputy Naughten who has long campaigned for more supports for those with long covid believes the move disrespects those essential workers who worked during the pandemic:
