Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Okay. The Deputy asked when the European Medicines Agency, EMA, will approve certain additional vaccines and that is a question that only the EMA can answer. I know it has a rolling review in place for vaccines. I will ask for a note to be sent to the Deputy on the position of various vaccines within the rolling reviews and vaccinations.

The Deputy should remember the registration fee paid by nurses is not to the Government but to the nursing professional body, which has been a really important part of the ongoing progress and development of the nursing profession. The Deputy asked about recognising the efforts of these personnel but I will stay away from the question of Haddington Road agreement hours or anything like it because that is a matter for national pay agreements.

My view is there should be recognition for nurses and everyone else who has worked across the healthcare system, including nurses, doctors, cleaners, healthcare assistants, nursing home staff, chefs, hospital porters and others. They went into work day after day and stepped up. They were at risk and this is a sector that saw significant additional infection rates. They deserve enormous credit and I want to see meaningful recognition for all healthcare workers for the extraordinary time they have put in this year and last year on behalf of our nation.

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