Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding general practice, we are all aware that a number of GPs have contacted many politicians and have taken to the airwaves to express their frustration. It was always a three-week programme. In week one 255 GP clinics were involved; week two added another 500; this week the number is 542. There is a number. I am told that in about 65 practices where for various reasons it has not been possible to buddy up they are engaged directly with the IMO and the HSE and they will get their deliveries next week. Of course we would love all 1,300 practices to have got exactly what they needed exactly when they needed it but, as I think the Deputy has acknowledged, this is complex. A lot of changes, the House will remember, were required at very short notice when NIAC advice changed. It should be remembered that the plan had been to use the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was a much more straightforward logistical operation. At very short notice the plan and the recommendation changed to mRNA, which is much more complex. However, these issues do need to be ironed out and the Deputy is absolutely right that consumables in every case should be arriving with the vaccines.

On the visibility of supply on a Monday, believe it or not, in the past seven days, AstraZeneca has substantively changed its supply three times. Therefore, even on a Monday, there is not full clarity because of what is happening with AstraZeneca. The Deputy has aired the concerns of many GPs. We are taking them on board and we will endeavour to continue to do better.

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