Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will raise a number of questions in the short time I have. In answering my colleague's question on the 1 million doses for April or lack thereof, the Minister said the figure would be slightly less than that. Slightly less in this case means 140,000 fewer vaccines, a number that would probably vaccinate the whole of County Limerick. It is not, therefore, a minor reduction.

There is concern about the slow roll-out of the vaccination and the different figures being given out. The Minister has to accept some responsibility for that. According to the Irish Examiner, last night's Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting heard the figure for April would be 860,000. The Minister is now saying this morning - I hope he is correct - that 1 million plus vaccines will be given out.

I have specific questions on vaccination centres for my constituency. Is the Minister considering additional vaccination centres for Limerick city and county? The one we have is in County Clare, not in the city, and is quite difficult to get to for people who live in the county area.

I met the HSE on Friday and this is why I am asking the question. Is the Minister confident there will be a smooth implementation of the vaccines? Do we have enough qualified staff trained and ready to deliver the vaccine in increased numbers to ensure that when supplies arrive into the country they are administered to those who are waiting to receive them?

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