Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

What communications and meetings took place in respect of the roadmap and the parameters NPHET set for the HSE? The HSE can only work within the parameters set by NPHET. For example, 2 m instead of 1 m would have a significant impact on any roadmap.

Dr. Anthony O'Connor, who the Minister knows quite well, appeared before the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response. He stated that because the Minister made a political decision to get rid of the private hospitals, there is a backlog of over 1 million people waiting. Those are his figures. Time and again, the Minister has stated that he follows public health advice. I have a number of statements here from Paul Reid, the chief executive of the HSE, who said that he wanted to keep that contract in place. Why did the Minister go against the chief executive and board of the HSE in the context of that decision? Remember, it is a political decision. I do not have time to read Mr. Reid's statements to the House but they are all on record. Why did the Minister go against the chief executive and board of the HSE regarding that decision considering that he consistently says he goes with public health advice?

The second issue relates to the vaccines. I asked the Minister last week whether he would ask the Chief Medical Officer about this matter. On the question of whether it would be better to give free vaccinations to everyone rather than what the Minister introduced, the Minister wrote back to me saying that the current programme represents the maximum impact we can have within the resources available to us. I take it, therefore, that this is the view of the Chief Medical Officer because I asked the Minister to ask him. The Chief Medical Officer is saying that it is the maximum impact we can have within the resources available to us. I find that amazing. In light of where we are at the moment with Covid-19, surely any chief medical officer would advocate for a vaccination programme for the flu because we do not want Covid-19 and the flu arriving at the same time. We must limit infection as much as we can.

Will the Minister confirm if a joint order for PPE was made with the Northern Ireland Executive? On 27 March, the Minister of Finance for Northern Ireland indicated, in an address at Stormont, that a joint order with Dublin had been secured. He stated: "This is a joint effort with the Dublin Government, the order has been placed." On 3 April, the HSE stated that no joint order was made. Can the Minister confirm to the House what happened before 27 March or whether there was any communication before 27 March with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the joint purchase of PPE? Remember, a memorandum of understanding regarding such a possibility was not signed until 7 April. What is going on here? How could the Minister of Finance in Northern Ireland say on 27 March that joint order for PPE involving the Government and its counterpart in the North had been secured? Could the Minister clarify the position in that regard?

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