Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The issue for the Taoiseach is not whether he respects public or private worship but is whether a Minister correctly informs the Dáil when he is bringing in legislation, which he specifically signed off on, which was not made by the Dáil but by the Minister. That is the issue. He specifically said that it was not a penal provision and that it would remain thus. Now the State is adopting a contrary position down in the courts and it is that that needs to be clarified.

Going back to my initial question, the Taoiseach is saying that notwithstanding what the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, ECDC, what HIQA has said and what most scientists around the world agree upon, healthcare professionals who have had Covid-19 because of their work and have put themselves on the line, have recovered and have antibodies, have to take a vaccine to get antibodies that they already have or be fired at a time when we need them most. These are in circumstances where there are elderly and vulnerable people across this State crying out for that self-same vaccine, who have no immunity, and for whom Covid-19 poses a very significant threat.

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