Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is right to acknowledge that the vaccination programme is certainly picking up pace. Since our vaccine supplies increased, we have seen a remarkable improvement in the numbers being vaccinated daily and weekly. There is no denying the early days of the vaccine roll-out were tough but the supply of vaccines was out of our hands and the control of the HSE.

I acknowledge the exceptional work by front-line staff, vaccinators and testers in fighting this disease. Every week we see the vast majority of vaccines received in the country being distributed in a matter of days, with exceptional efforts by hard-working individuals involved in the process.

Vaccinations to people who are at home were mentioned earlier and there are still a number of people in my constituency who are bedridden or housebound who still have not received their vaccine. I acknowledge the great work being done by the National Ambulance Service but could we have a timeframe for these people's vaccinations?

Deputy Carey raised the question of people in other countries, including Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, who are fully vaccinated but where the vaccine is not recognised here. Could this be rectified? Some of these people are coming to the end of contracts and they want to come home. They are fully vaccinated so could their process be streamlined?

I am thankful there is now a steady supply of vaccines and the time has come to operate 24-hour vaccination services. People getting the vaccine would not mind what hour of the day or night they are asked to come. People are extremely anxious to get this vaccine and get their life back to normal. We have a decent supply of vaccines so could consideration be given to 24-hour vaccination centres?

We want to keep the virus under control and we definitely do not want another wave. There should be testing, especially in higher population densities or where people are in workplaces.

We have a number of walk-in test centres in my constituency and all around the country. Can the number of those centres be increased and can they be set up in all towns? Can they even be set up where there are major employers? We have seen instances with major employers having clusters of the virus. More of these walk-in centres will be essential to make sure we continue with the progress we have made.

The rapid antigen testing also has a place. For major employers in places where there are many people congregating, it is worth considering that rapid antigen testing would become the norm in these workplaces.

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