Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I said last week that the curtailment of the Opposition in doing its job had to stop. It is unacceptable that, for the third week out of four, there will not be dedicated statements and questions to the Minister for Health on the public health response and the vaccination programme. Those statements and questions were agreed by the Business Committee and understood to take place every three weeks out of four.

I understand that additional hours will be allocated to Dáil sittings from next week. The Government needs to clarify for the record that there will be additional hours, more time for the Opposition and fixed statements with the Minister for Health for the duration of the crisis as a standing time slot every week on the public health response and the vaccination programme. We await those assurances.

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