People Before Profit last week submitted a number of parliamentary questions to the government on and number of Covid 19 related issues and their Covid 19 response.
Answers from relevant government departments and Ministers are expected today.
Questions listed in notes.
Notes:
1. What WHO protocol is the HSE following for testing for Covid19. What impact is availability of test equipment and laboratory facilities having on the long waiting times for tests and for results respectively?
2 What PPE will be available to HCWs at ED, on Wards without Covid19 patients, Wards with Covid19 patients, ICUs and when performing aerosolising procedures on patients.
3. Are the HSE implementing all sections of the WHO guidelines on Health worker rights? These include that employers and managers in health facilities:
• assume overall responsibility to ensure that all necessary preventive and protective measures are taken to minimize occupational safety and health risks1;
• provide information (including of occupational safety and health management systems to identify hazards and assess risks to health and safety; infection prevention and control (IPC) measures; zero-tolerance policies towards workplace violence and harassment); and training on occupational safety and health, including;
o Refresher training on infection prevention and control (IPC); and
o Use, putting on, taking off and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE);
• provide adequate IPC and PPE supplies (masks, gloves, goggles, gowns, hand sanitizer, soap and water, cleaning supplies) in sufficient quantity to healthcare or other staff caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients, such that workers do not incur expenses for occupational safety and health requirements; • familiarize personnel with technical updates on COVID-19 and provide appropriate tools to assess, triage, test and treat patients and to share infection prevention and control information with patients and the public;
• as needed, provide with appropriate security measures for personal safety;
• provide a blame-free environment for workers to report on incidents, such as exposures to blood or bodily fluids from the respiratory system or to cases of violence, and to adopt measures for immediate follow-up, including support to victims;
• advise workers on self-assessment, symptom reporting and staying home when ill;
• maintain appropriate working hours with breaks;
• consult with health workers on occupational safety and health aspects of their work and notify the labour inspectorate of cases of occupational diseases;
• not be required to return to a work situation where there is continuing or serious danger to life or health, until the employer has taken any necessary remedial action;
• allow workers to exercise the right to remove themselves from a work situation that they have reasonable justification to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to their life or health. When a health worker exercises this right, they shall be protected from any undue consequences;
• honour the right to compensation, rehabilitation and curative services if infected with COVID-19 following exposure in the workplace. This would be considered occupational exposure and resulting illness would be considered an occupational disease,
• provide access to mental health and counselling resources; and
• enable co-operation between management and workers and/or their representatives
Richard Boyd Barrett
To ask the Minister for Finance to look at the application for the Wage Subsidy Scheme for Results Fitness Gyms Limited, who seem to be carved out of the scheme even though they reach all the criteria but a technical glitsch on the ROS website means their Feb payroll, submitted on 27 March was not received by Revenue. The company employ 7 people who will have to be made redundant next week if the company cannot access the scheme.
Richard Boyd Barrett
To ask the Minister for Housing and Planning if he is planning to extend the freeze on An Bord Pleanala deadlines after 20 April and until when and to make a statement on the matter.
To ask the Minister for Finance if he will liaise with Ulster Bank to ensure that they do not increase their in-branch transaction fees from 20cents to 80 Cents as they are proposing, on 18 April, this move will disproportionately affect older people and those that do not use online facilities and to make a statement on the matter
Richard Boyd Barrett
