Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
679. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection whether she will recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness for healthcare workers following the recommendation of the European Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35750/23]
View answerChapter 13 of Part 2 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 legislates for the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme for persons injured by an accident at work or caused by a prescribed disease due to the nature of their employment.
Covid-19 is not currently a prescribed disease or illness for the purposes of the Occupation Injuries Benefit 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.
My Department is aware of the recommendation of the European Commission regarding Covid-19. The decision on whether or not to recognise an illness as an occupational illness is a Member State competence. Responses already received from other relevant departments and Ministers on the matter are currently under consideration and I intend having further discussions with them before coming to a decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
