The special leave with pay scheme for Covid cases is ending tomorrow and many who have contacted me are front-line workers who contracted Covid in the workplace. They are worried that, on top of having lost their health, this will push them into poverty. I have asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, about this and he said the Department of Health is working on a proposal to deal with such cases. As no cliff-edge was promised to these workers, could the special leave be extended until the Department's proposal is finalised?

I am not directly involved in that but will speak about it to the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, and ask him to come back to the Deputy in more detail. I hear what she is saying about wanting to avoid a cliff-edge. We are trying to move away from the idea that Covid is a special illness that is treated differently to other illnesses. It will be with us forever and needs to be seen in the round in terms of what is offered to people when it comes to sick pay and other things. That process needs to happen in an orderly way.