Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to put on the record that I am generally supportive of and in agreement with the Government's decision to increase the Covid-19 restrictions to level 5 nationwide, as of midnight tonight. It is a prudent and sensible thing to do under the circumstances. As an individual who comes from a constituency that covers the Laois, Offaly and Kildare region, I am familiar with the additional burden that lockdown will put on the local population. However, I also recognise that it is a viable strategy as a last resort to keep a lid on this virus and prevent it from gaining a foothold in our vulnerable populations, although I appreciate that this is not a universally held view. Even members of the medical profession differ in their opinions on this, however that is not unusual. We are dealing with something that is at the very frontiers of knowledge, and we are learning more about it every single day.

However, I wish to focus on something which is more hopeful. It concerns the potential discovery of a vaccine. The discovery of a vaccine is not going to fit into a very rigid political timescale, but it is something on which we should definitely focus. While we cannot influence the process directly, we could be looking at improving the environment or conditions to expedite that process.

I have three questions for the Taoiseach. First, where are we from a vaccination perspective? Most Members in the Chamber recognise that a vaccine would be a game changer. We are familiar with what is available from an open source perspective, but is there any information at a national level or European level to which the Taoiseach might be privy, that he can share with the House? Where are we from a vaccination discovery perspective?

Second, we have an extensive pharmaceutical industry in this country. Is it playing its part in this global effort? Are we leveraging the expertise we have in Cork or in Newbridge where the Pfizer plant is located?

Third, is there anything else we can do from a State or governmental perspective? Are we leveraging organisations such as Enterprise Ireland and the new Department with responsibility for further and higher education, research, innovation and science? Are our public universities involved with commercial industry, taking a collaborative approach, so that we can expedite this process from a vaccination perspective? Those are my three questions and if the Taoiseach could shed some light on them, I would very much appreciate it.

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