Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Speaking at the European Committee of the Regions on 18 March, the EU Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, said that vaccine alone would not eradicate the virus. She also stressed the importance of tests and contact tracing. According to the Commissioner, tests are particularly important for member states that start reopening after lockdown. The Commissioner also mentioned that more than 20 million rapid antigen test kits were bought and are to be delivered by April using €100 million from the emergency support instrument, the Commission's financial aid to member states to address the Covid emergency.

Another way to increase testing capacity is by using self-tests. Some countries have started to use them. What has the Government done to seek access to the emergency support instrument so the testing for Covid-19 can be ramped up in the coming weeks? What efforts are being made in Ireland to roll out the self-testing option, which has been advocated by the EU Commission? Why has there been no talk of this procedure here, which could assist certain sectors of the economy to reopen?

Ireland's handling of an application for emergency EU funds has been completely shambolic. Ireland has been in full lockdown for almost 200 days. Ireland's unemployment rate is at 25% and our vaccine roll-out is floundering. The level of support being offered to small and medium-sized companies is the lowest in the EU. The country's childcare, tourism, hospitality, aviation and entertainment sectors are on the verge of complete collapse. This week the Restaurants Association of Ireland warned the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht that 50% of restaurants will never reopen following the impact of the lockdown.

Europe needs to wake up and we need to be strong to let it know that. I see vaccines being manufactured in Europe and given to non-European countries first. Having heard that Europe is considering blocking vaccines going from Europe to the UK, the UK leader, Boris Johnson, for the first time is asking for us all to work together. Why did he not ask that during Brexit? He did not give a damn about us. We see his co-operation, kindness and sweetness to us now all of a sudden when he realises that maybe we have one bit of a power hold over him. It is time for us to step in and ensure that happens. It is time for Europe to get tough. Our country is closed for business and we are laggards in the roll-out of the vaccine.

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