Responding to the Cabinet decision to lift restrictions to reopen society and the economy based on Public Health advice, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary Patricia King said: “At the outset, we must acknowledge the personal losses, suffering, and grief experienced by so many people over the past two years.
Today’s decisions are not without risk. This pandemic is not over and no doubt the coming weeks will clarify future virus/ variant transmission patterns, as outlined by the WHO Special Envoy on Covid-19 David Nabarro.
We are very mindful of the ongoing pressure being experienced by our healthcare workforce in the delivery of health services.
Recognising the understandable desire felt by most people to return to a level of normality, we urge all employers to ensure that they continue to take the necessary steps to keep workplaces safe. Remote and flexible working must now become a mainstream feature of future working arrangements. “We look forward to discussing all these matters in detail at the forthcoming Stakeholder Forum scheduled for early next week.”
