Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Notwithstanding the issue with supply, we are making real progress on the vaccine roll-out. I was delighted to take a call from a woman from Lanesborough in her 70s this morning who told me she was finally getting her vaccine this afternoon. I thank the GPs and their staff who have put in a massive effort and who are performing a real national service in the roll-out of the vaccine programme for the over 70s. I am delighted our vaccination centre in Longford will open on 3 May and will be administering more than 900 vaccines a day with a staff of 45 people on site. We do not get a county-by-county breakdown of the vaccine roll-out, but with 5,900 people aged over 65 in Longford in the 2016 census, it is reasonable to assume we are tracking the 22% national first dose average.

The public appreciates and understands there will be issues with supply, and in the main are appreciative of the huge logistic effort that has gone into the vaccine roll-out, which we have to remind people is the single biggest public health initiative ever undertaken in the country. What has continually frustrated the public in recent weeks is the mixed and negative messaging from senior figures in government regarding reopening our economy and a return to normality. A total of 90% of households in the country have put their lives on hold for the best part of a year. They have waited patiently, abided by an unnatural suite of restrictions and abided by the Government's every demand.

I appreciate that the process has required leadership from various Ministers, and I commend the Minister, Deputy Donnelly and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on the huge personal sacrifices they have made throughout this period. At this stage, the public wants to see them and their senior colleagues in government take the bravest of steps. We want to see a structured but defiant reopening against the backdrop of the escalation of the vaccine roll-out. Publicans, cafés and retailers throughout County Longford want to reopen. We want to return to mass and we want to play sport again. The reality is that normality will not come with the flick of a switch. With Northern Ireland escalating its reopening, it is not unreasonable to expect we should see a significant reopening of our economy by Monday, 24 May. For many, it has to be said, May is a line in the sand and I fear we risk losing the room after that date. It is often one of the best months of the year weather-wise and we are pinning a lot of our hopes on outdoor hospitality this year. In this respect, it is very important that the sector gets an opportunity to reopen in May.

We will see the easing of some restrictions on 4 May, including public worship, and I welcome the Minister's comments following his meeting with the archbishop. I earnestly feel that households and businesses throughout Ireland need to see a plan next week clearly setting out a timeline for the reopening of our economy throughout the month of May.

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