Frontline workers, including those in the retail sector, could be in line for payments or time off work as a reward for working during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Taoiseach Michael Martin has said. Earlier Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath warned the cost of extra pay or leave across the public sector as a reward for service during the pandemic could top €1 billion. Can we afford such measures? To discuss we heard from  Tony Fitzpatrick, Director of Industrial relations at the INMO (Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation) and also Edgar Morgenroth, Professor of Economics at DCU.

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