David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is welcome and it is a lot of staff. However, there are questions being asked in regard to the role of pharmacists. There are 2,500 pharmacists, who, obviously, can play a crucial role. The Minister said yesterday in the Dáil that dentists will also play a role, which is great, and it is all hands to the pump as far as I am concerned. However, the Irish Pharmacy Union is concerned that pharmacists have not had any assurances in regard to when their staff will be vaccinated and when they will be part of the vaccination process. My understanding is that, from what they have been told, pharmacists may not be part of the roll-out for the over 70s, and there is a concern that GPs will be part of it but not pharmacists. I ask Mr. Walsh to give clarity in regard to the role of pharmacists, first, in regard to when they will be vaccinated, and, second, on their role in regard to the vaccination programme. Third, if pharmacies are not going to play a role until we get beyond the over-70s, when the Minister says dentists will play a role, at what point will they come into the equation as well?