Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Last week the Minister flew a kite about 30 year old people being vaccinated. I was shocked because I had just been on the phone to a family of a 92 year old who still had not had her first vaccination. I submitted a parliamentary question asking if all 85 year olds who wanted vaccines were fully vaccinated but did not get confirmation of same. When will those who are over 85 who seek vaccination receive their first dose and when will they be fully inoculated?

I also submitted a parliamentary question on a claim that has been submitted to the State Claims Agency by a family whose loved one contracted Covid-19 in a hospital setting and subsequently died. Obviously, we offer our sympathies to that family. I have heard of many people who have had similar experiences. I have no doubt that most hospitals did their best to keep the illness out. However, many front-line workers felt abandoned by the Government in terms of understaffing over the course of the pandemic. Such understaffing is incredible given that 74,000 people responded to the Be On Call for Ireland campaign, with only 54 employed by the State this time last year. I have also heard of situations of negligence by the HSE in terms of people contracting Covid in hospital and subsequently losing their lives. Have similar cases been brought to the Department which have not yet made it to court? The Government indemnified vaccine companies against any adverse effects that might occur. Has anyone approached the Department regarding compensation for adverse effects experienced following vaccination?

There is no doubt that there is a need for caution but the Government's approach to lockdown right now is disproportionate. This is not December or January. Hospital admissions are now, thankfully, low, ICU occupancy is also low and 1.2 million people have had a vaccine. In that context, there is a necessity to open up elements of Irish society now. First and foremost, when will cancer, heart disease, stroke and mental health services be fully reopened? People in need of such services have been de-prioritised, even though many are in life-or-death situations. When will the provision of outdoor hospitality and pub services resume? We know that the levels of transmission of this illness in outdoor settings have been extremely low. Finally, every time I ask the Government about religious practice, I am told that it will resume at the same time that museum and gallery visits resume. Museum and gallery visits are important but religious practice is an international human right. Are they pitched at the same level by this Government?

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