Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of questions which I will put together and the Minister can respond as best he can. I seek clarification on several points in the Minister's responses to Deputy Culliane. He mentioned that dentists are included in cohort 2 as front-line workers. They do not know this so there is a need for improvement. Will the Minister clarify exactly how the roll-out among this cohort of very important workers will take place?

I reiterate the question put by the previous speaker in respect of carers, particularly family carers. It is crucial that the roll-out of the vaccine is seen to be fair and that equality is seen to underpin everything done. In this respect, it should not really matter who is paying a carer. If people are carers or working with vulnerable people, they should be included and prioritised as part of the roll-out.

This principle of equality and fairness also needs to apply in respect of the workers and staff in hospitals. Over the weekend, we all saw a headline that hospital staff in the south west are four times more likely to have been vaccinated than staff in the north east. This is not what we need to see and I am sure the Minister will agree. We need to ensure the roll-out is balanced and fair. This week, one of my local radio stations, LMFM, heard harrowing stories from staff in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda with respect to false dawns. Staff were told to prepare for vaccination programmes being rolled out, but on Tuesday they were told it was not going to happen. I do not know whether the Minister has clarification on this case. I do not know whether the Minister is aware that, in the Cavan and Monaghan hospital group in my constituency, staff and workers in Monaghan have been expected to travel to Cavan to get vaccinated. This is not fair or equal and, in my view, it is not effective. Will the Minister give an update on whether there will be a vaccination roll-out in Monaghan hospital?

Will the Minister clarify, and I hope the answer is a simple one, for staff who are resident in the Six Counties of the North and working as front-line workers in hospitals in this State that they will be part of the vaccination programme?

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