Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I confirm at the outset that I am in the precincts of Leinster House.

I have a number of questions for Mr. Reid. I am sure that Mr. Reid has had many questions this morning from Deputies and Senators around the State about vaccine roll-out. In Clare we have seen strident improvements.

A lot of people have been vaccinated since. There are fabulous examples, such as Sixmilebridge last weekend, where the local GP was out with representatives from the GAA club. They were funnelling people through, vaccinating them and getting them home safely. We have had other examples in parts of west Clare where vaccines are only arriving today. Certainly the cogs in the system are well oiled in some places but there are instances where it has been dropped.

At a recent meeting of the committee I highlighted there had been missing links with regard to HSE staff. The mental health nurses at Ennis General Hospital had not been vaccinated but administrative staff were being vaccinated. In some cases, it has gone beyond vaccinating cohort 2. I was told something yesterday that I wish to substantiate with the witnesses. Is it true that HSE staff working from home and not on the front line are being vaccinated along with their front-line colleagues? I ask Mr Reid to verify this or dismiss it.