The Government took a decision to introduce a €1,000 Covid-19 recognition payment for people who worked on the front line. Obviously, that was a very positive and welcome decision. Unfortunately, however, there are still thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people who have yet to receive this payment.

There are anomalies between certain regions. In my region, the people who worked in the registry office for births, marriages and deaths are not being paid the recognition payment, but the people in the neighbouring CHO regions are being paid it. People who changed jobs from their original job have yet to get it. People who were contracted to the HSE have yet to be paid. It was a very positive development and a good gesture but the positivity has been lost for certain people. When can these people expect to receive what they have been promised, which is the €1,000 recognition payment for working on the front line during the pandemic?

The vast majority of people entitled to the payment have received it and received it last year. I should say that it was intended for people who were front-line workers - the people who wore masks and gowns and were exposed to Covid patients before the vaccines were available. It was for our own employees who were employees of the State. We put in a provision allowing non-State employees' employers to pay €1,000 to their own staff without having to pay tax on it. Pretty much anyone who was entitled to it has got it. I accept that there have been some disputes. There have been anomalies from one region to another, which creates problems as well. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is trying to iron all of that out at the moment.