Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 June 2023
142. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 24 May 2023, if her Department has considered replies received from other Ministers and Departments in relation to the European Commission’s recommendation to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness; the status of her review; when she expects to make a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30188/23]
View answerThe Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme is provided by my Department under Chapter 13 of Part 2 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The scheme provides a range of benefits in the form of compensation or income supports to those injured by an accident at work or travelling to and from work, or who contracted a prescribed disease at work.
COVID-19 is not a prescribed disease or illness under this scheme. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that—
(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and
(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.
I am considering my Department's response to the European Commission's recommendation, including the responses received from the Departments and Ministers with whom we have engaged.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
