Outbreaks of Covid in local meat plants during Covid was one of the catalysts for the Sick Pay bill.
That's according to Doctor Laura Bambrick, social policy officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, who says this week's decision by the Government to approve the design of the scheme brings us one step closer to being in line with the North and other wealthy European countries.
She says the bill is crucial to allow workers have some financial security when sick, and while there will be a cap on the amount paid daily and a 30% reduction on your average earnings, it will still allow people to take the time to recover from illness.
It was widely reported that there were a number of outbreaks in plants in both Cavan and Monaghan throughout the pandemic.
Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound she stated that these clusters in plants highlighted the major issues with the Irish system:
