Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My understanding of recent reports is that a glut of vaccines will be available in the United States, with 800 million doses in total from start to finish being available. Has there been engagement with the US authorities on accessing this supply from the US? I understand Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available. Will there be engagement on this issue?

The next issue I want to raise is with regard to maternity services. There are still a lot of complaints from women in hospital maternity care whose partners and husbands cannot get to visit. In particular, I understand that even though a decision has been taken that partners can attend the 20-week scan, this is not being allowed in the maternity units of two hospitals. Why can we not have a common set of rules throughout the country? Recently, the Rotunda issued a directive and set out a clear timeline for people visiting their loved ones in a maternity setting. Will the Minister make a comment on this? Will the Department and the HSE issue a directive to all of the maternity hospitals on this issue?

With regard to the roll-out to those who are bed bound and cannot access their GPs, will the National Ambulance Service engage with the Army to see whether it can help to expedite the situation? Families are extremely concerned. They are not being contacted and do not know when their loved one, who may be in their 80s or 90s, and there has been one person aged over 100, will be vaccinated. I ask that this be expedited and a clear message sent back to families on this issue.

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