Sir, – The work of those at the frontline of the pandemic was immense. However, schoolchildren sitting at home, their parents schooling them and trying to work at the same time, elderly people, including those in nursing homes unable to see their families, those in palliative care unable to see many loved ones, and pretty much every person in the country not described as a frontline worker made sacrifices during the pandemic because they were told we were in it together. The crass politicking regarding a so-called pandemic bonus (what bonus could possibly arise from a global pandemic?!) runs the risk that we will exit the pandemic not together, but in the usual lobbying vested interest groups. The pandemic bonus is and should be that we are still here, together. – Yours, etc,
SHAUN BOYLAN,
Waterford.