Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is just to keep us right. I thank the Deputy. There is a move to age-based vaccination and the Taoiseach drew a parallel with the North. Sadly, I wish we were in the same position as those in the North, where vaccination is moving ahead at pace. Of course, the Taoiseach is aware there is an occupational element to that scheme. It is why, for example, carers got priority and have been vaccinated in the North. The occupational logic was applied in the correct decision to vaccinate healthcare workers - those on the front line - first. It was not age-related but decided according to occupations.

The Taoiseach has told us the national immunisation advisory committee has advised the Government that there is no occupational group at higher risk of disease or death from Covid-19. I invite the Government to publish that advice so we can scrutinise it. There is also the question of the shenanigans at the Beacon clinic, which is the latest instance we know of where the guidelines issued by the HSE were set to one side and an individual arbitrarily chose people to be vaccinated. Apart from the elitism, this demonstrates a lack of oversight and surveillance. We heard about the Beacon clinic case because of good journalism and somebody stepping forward, not because we have good oversight. What will the Taoiseach do to remedy this clear deficiency?

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