Unions representing healthcare workers have called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to speed up the payment of financial bonuses to members for their efforts and commitment during the pandemic.
The unions are calling on Mr Martin to authorise the Health Service Executive and relevant Government departments to engage with them to agree and implement the promised recognition without any further delay.
The unions say the Government's failure to act has put the Republic out of step with Northern Ireland, Britain and most EU countries where health workers have already received recognition for their efforts and contribution.
The unions, including the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, SIPTU, Fórsa, the Irish Medical Organisation and Unite, sent a letter to the Taoiseach last week.
They say there is growing frustration among members who say despite many supportive statements from the Government, they have yet to see any real progress towards recognition of their efforts and sacrifices.
The unions have referred the dispute to the Labour Court.
Tony Fitzpatrick, who chairs the staff panel of health service unions, said engagements with the HSE since last November had resulted in no progress.
Mr Fitzpatrick wrote that health workers "are incredulous at reports that no recognition was offered at the August WRC meeting, and at the news that their unions must now argue their case - seemingly uncontested by the most senior members of Government and health service management - before the Labour Court".
Mr Fitzpatrick said the impasse was "deeply damaging to the morale of all healthcare workers who, without exception, have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and willingness to respond to national and public need, as well as Government demands in response to the pandemic".
They also point to research that shows staff who work directly with Covid-19 patients are 47 times more likely to catch Covid-19 than those impacted through community-acquired infection.
"Over 30,000 healthcare workers have been infected with Covid-19 since the pandemic struck in Ireland, and more than 600 have been infected in the most recent 14-day epidemiological report," Mr Fitzpatrick said.
The head of Fórsa's Health and Welfare division said today he would like health service employers to come to the table and have "a real discussion about a range of options consistent with the messaging from Government" on the provision of a bonus payment.
Éamonn Donnelly said "what we're really calling on is that the messaging that's coming from Government sources to say healthcare workers should be recognised for this extraordinary demand, that it is recognised" and that this leads to a negotiation process to explore a range of options.
He said this call goes beyond frontline workers as all healthcare workers were rallied at the beginning of the pandemic "to fight this pandemic on behalf of the citizens of Ireland".
Mr Donnelly added similar workers in the UK were given a once off bonus payment and other systems of payment have applied across Europe.
Meanwhile, Deputy General Secretary of the INMO Dave Hughes has said that politicians have made very solemn promises to the health service staff on the issue of extra recognition, and "it's insulting to the people who work in the health service" to be forced to go to the Labour Court to get it.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, he said he expects the Taoiseach to live up to what was said, come forward with tangible proposals and that should happen without the INMO being forced to go to the Labour Court and start from scratch.
He said it needs to happen in the coming weeks, before the next budget.
The Health Service Executive has said both it and the Department of Health recognise and appreciate the exceptional efforts of staff over the past 18 months and the resilience and flexibility shown during this very difficult time.
The HSE said it has been advised that it is intended to address the recognition issue with regard to frontline workers in the autumn, when it should be a lot clearer where Ireland is with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It said it is not in a position to pre-empt any Government decision in advance of its consideration.
