Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It is a complete and utter contradiction to say that the new Government will accelerate the implementation of Sláintecare and at the same time that the only financial commitment to it is to examine the period post-2022. That is entirely disingenuous and feeds into the view that the outgoing Government party, supported by Fianna Fáil, was never really serious about having a proper universal public healthcare system. That is deeply disappointing.

I want to raise a few other matters. There is a general consensus, and it was said by Professor Phillip Nolan, that a second wave of the virus is probable. We all hope and keep our fingers crossed that will not happen, but it is highly likely and has happened in other countries. There is concern that we are not prepared for a second wave. I listened to Professor Jack Lambert, a consultant in infectious diseases, speaking on the radio yesterday. He said we are particularly unprepared in the nursing home sector because it is so under-resourced and so many people working in it are in precarious employment without any kind of security at all. They come and go and, as has been mentioned, have no sick pay. What is the view of the Minister on the level of preparedness for a second wave in the nursing home sector where so many of the fatalities occurred? Is there a document to support that?

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