Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

My question is not unrelated. First, to give the Minister a head-spin altogether, there is now a trio of health spokespersons from the Opposition saying "Well done." I agree fully with the decision to go ahead with this vaccine and I am pleased to say the Minister has done the right thing in this case.

I refer to the issue of cost. The Minister's original estimate or the estimate provided to her was, if I recall correctly, some €16 million for the HPV, human papilloma virus, vaccine. Now, a figure of €3 million has been indicated for this roll-out. Will the Minister explain this? An initial read would suggest the explanation of such a difference is that there must have been an inordinate profit involved for the pharmaceutical companies.

I refer to public information. What proactive information programme does the Minister intend to roll out to inform teachers, principals, parents and pupils such that there is an understanding of the importance of the vaccine and its uptake?

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