Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the private hospitals issue, it was a political decision. It was a decision taken by the Government of Ireland on a memorandum brought to Government by me. There is no passing the buck. It was a decision taken by the Government, which decision many in this House advocated from a variety of political spectrums should have been made. It is not for me to speak for the HSE but it wants to know that there is additional capacity available should it be required. I have made clear that any new agreement would have to include the ability for us to step in and take 100% of the private hospitals should we need it.

On the issue of a vaccine, the letter I wrote to the Deputy reflects the position in terms of trying to maximise the amount of vaccine that we can acquire within the resources available to us.

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