Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I demand of the Chair that we receive answers to our questions in writing. I never got answers when I asked questions here. I have asked the Minister five times here about the roll-out of the vaccine for the flu. Only 1.4 million of the 2 million available could be accounted for. I want an answer in writing.

The UK has 20 million vaccinated, including 600,000 vaccinated in Northern Ireland. What are we doing wrong here? Could the Minister please answer the question as to why gardaí, who are on the front line, and our carers are not vaccinated? Surely to God gardaí should be vaccinated considering that we expect them to deal with every situation.

The Garda Representative Association has been on to me and, I am sure, every politician in this House asking why they are not a priority, and the family carers also. I want written answers, please.

On 23 October 2018, something peculiar occurred. The European Commission minutes show a meeting on the organisation and delivery of vaccination services to 28 countries. There was an update on that in March 2019, a year before there was any virus in Ireland or a pandemic. What was going on? Is this the great plan? I want the Minister to answer that. There was also a feasibility study by the European Commission on the development of a common EU vaccine card-travel passport. Is the genie out of the bottle here? This happened in 2018 and 2019 and we have no accountability. The Government wants to be the good boys in Europe. I have asked the Minister to go out and source vaccines, as Deputy MacSharry has, but no. It is an absolute shambles. The clinic in Cahir was to give clinics to 37 elderly people two weeks last Wednesday. They will get them this Saturday, we hope. It has been an absolute shambles.

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