Trade Unions representing Health Care workers have called on the Taoiseach to intervene, in getting recognition for the work they've done during the pandemic.
In a letter to Micheál Martin, the unions urged him to authorise the HSE and other Government departments, to implement the promised recognition without further delay.
Ireland is now one of the few countries in Europe to not formally offer extra pay or time off to health care workers, which the unions say is damaging their morale.
David Hughes, Deputy General Secretary of the INMO says nurses and midwives need more time off.
"We put a figure on that of ten days per annum.
"They are dealing with extraordinary pressure. They themselves live in communities where they fear bringing it [Covid] out of the hospital.
"They're in hospital facing higher exposure to the virus than anybody else, and they do that every day brvely.
"It is time that they got some recognition."
