I want to ask about the exclusion of huge numbers of people from the Covid recognition payment. The answer the Taoiseach gave earlier is that it is restricted to those on the front line. For many groups of people, this is frankly insulting. The Taoiseach is saying to carers they are not on the front line. Despite the €20 billion of free labour done by these people, the Taoiseach is saying to them they do not count as being on the front line. During Covid they were keeping friends and family safe in very difficult circumstances when everything was shut down. The Taoiseach is saying to them they are not on the front line. He is saying to cleaners in vaccination centres they were not working on the front line. He is saying to receptionists and other staff in GP centres that when the vaccination programme was happening, they were not on the front line. Why is the Taoiseach refusing to include in the recognition these and others who were on the front line?

The Government recognises the efforts of people throughout society in respect of Covid-19. Originally, in the earlier phase of Covid, when we spoke about the front line, it was very evident in terms of intensive care and the consistent pressure workers in hospitals were under in respect of Covid-19. There are different mechanisms and contractual arrangements with different sectors. For example, there has been ongoing extensive engagement between the HSE and GP practices on a range of programmes where supports and agreements have been arrived at. There is a combination of approaches in terms of the bank holiday to try to recognise more generally people's contribution and to remember all those who lost their lives as a result of Covid, and to try to provide a recognition programme that is balanced and does its best to meet the needs of those who have done so much.