Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I am advised that the vaccination of those aged over 85 will begin in the middle of February as planned but because we will have to use the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, of which there is less supply, as opposed to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the roll-out will be slower. I cannot give the Deputy exact timeframes and dates on it at this stage. It will allow us to speed up the vaccine programme for healthcare workers and high-risk people who are under 70. A lot of the details of this have to be worked out. This new development only happened in recent days with regard to the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for those aged over 70. We will have that detail and share it with people as soon as we have it.

In relation to Lynsey Bennett, my thoughts are with her today also, and with her daughters Zoe and Haley. I do not want to comment too much on an individual case because I do not know the details of the case. I imagine the Deputy does not know either. It is the objective of the State and the Government to settle all cases by mediation where possible. I understand this case was settled by mediation and did not have to go to trial but perhaps it could have been settled earlier. Only the legal teams know that. At the time I made the commitment, as I have explained before, I believed and hoped it would be possible to settle all cases by mediation or negotiation but, unfortunately, that has not proved possible.

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