Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is not very often I get an opportunity to speak on this issue. I want to use the brief time available to me, on behalf of myself and my constituents, to convey again my great thanks and appreciation and to commend key workers across the country for their ongoing dedication and commitment to their roles, which has allowed us to be in a position to respond effectively and to deal with the recent onslaught. I am especially mindful of the healthcare workers in care settings, in homes and in our hospitals and of the doctors, nurses, care assistants, cleaners, porters and everybody associated with that mammoth effort that has saved many lives and who helped and assisted those who passed on to the next life in the absence of their families. We commend these workers and appreciate them. I hope in a post-pandemic atmosphere that the Government will be in a position to build on the alliances and relationships it has had with the private sector in its bid to help and assist in meeting the demands of the non-Covid setting and the non-Covid care that is required thereafter and the huge waiting lists.

Data on vaccines, and the scientific evidence from those countries with more advanced vaccination programmes to date, is encouraging. Of course it is a great source of help and hope to many of us and our wider population. That is despite the great frustration, anxiety and fear that exists. It is despite the acknowledgement of the mistakes and mixed messaging associated with our programmes over the last months. They accept that in the knowledge and expectation of learning lessons from those mistakes.

I specifically want to comment on and question the result of the huge and profound commitments made by the Minister, the Taoiseach and the Government, which of course we welcome, that 80% of the adult population can and will be vaccinated by the end of June. The commitment, the expectation and the belief on foot of those commitments that up to 250,000 vaccinations per week will take place in the coming weeks and months is of course to be welcomed. It offers hope and light at the end of a very dark tunnel, which was a lot longer than we expected when we stood in the Chamber one year ago with this problem in front of us.

Those commitments were surely made against the backdrop of knowledge and information via NPHET, via NIAC, around supply issues, vaccination roll out and logistics. Yet, we see some problems in the GP roll out. I hear the explanations emanating from the Minister and others and I hope that is resolved soon.

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