Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for making sure our country is seeing a massive ramping up of the roll-out in recent days and weeks. I particularly thank the Minister for the roll-out of the community vaccine centres. I had the privilege, last night, of meeting the staff who are ensuring that happens in Cavan and Monaghan. It was a fantastic sight and I thank those staff, who are all exhausted at this stage, who took time out to show Oireachtas Members around a state-of-the-art set-up in a hotel. It is unbelievable what can be done. A recovery area and booths are all set out in such a safe way I am sure they will have no difficulties. I thank Cara O'Neill, Celine Corcoran and Aisling Duffy for their time, care and professionalism in delivering vaccinations across Cavan-Monaghan. The ramping up has been incredible over the last couple of weeks.

I again echo what the Minister heard today regarding those who are housebound. We have had difficulties in being able to get clarity and information to people. It seems that information is being lost in translation. I do not know whether that has to do with systems. I urge that, if there is anything more to be done, it is speeded up for people.

I also draw the attention of the Minister and the Minister of State to maternity services. That was mentioned here today. I am delighted that the Minister has made the point that hospitals can make their own decisions on numbers, capacity and the extra pressures on them in this area. As the Minister knows from his visits to both Cavan and Monaghan, and seeing Cavan General Hospital, we are incredibly lucky to have both the maternity service and the midwifery led unit, MLU. It is critically important that we start to allow husbands and partners in for women, particularly for first-time mothers who find it traumatising to head into hospital without their loved one.

Finally, I came across a case of somebody who has spent a long time in hospital. Their GP missed the deadline, through no fault of theirs, in registering for the vaccine. This is a person who was brought home from hospital in the last number of days. The GP and I are finding it difficult to find out who in the HSE is responsible for ensuring somebody home from hospital will get the vaccine as well.

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