Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the national immunisation advisory committee for its really important advice on vaccinations. Data from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, last week demonstrate that successfully reaching people aged over 65 would stop 93% of deaths that have occurred from Covid-19, whereas reaching those with underlying conditions would stop 87% of people having to enter intensive care units.

Successful vaccination is really important but we cannot count any chickens before they hatch. Could we devote the sort of attention that is being devoted to reopening education safely to reopening some of the other areas that are affected by level 5 and level 4 restrictions? I am thinking about mental health services, childcare, safe pods for isolated people, worship and outdoor activity. With warmer weather, could we find ways to improve ventilation and use antigen testing to make such venues or activities safer? There is potential that could be explored.

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