Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ministers for their speeches today and for their work. In the short time available, I want to ask several questions and I do not know if the Ministers will have time to answer me. On a question to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, I want to raise the issue of day centres. There will be an announcement tomorrow but respite has never resumed in Galway. It is painful to walk home at night and watch people of all ages out and enjoying themselves, with no social distancing, yet no respite centres are open in Galway. It is simply not acceptable.

Yesterday, I spoke on the draconian legislation that we are going to put through the Dáil once again, which is not evidence-based, yet we are clapping ourselves on the back for the vaccination programme. I pay tribute to the staff on the ground in the various venues but we need a full discussion at some point as to what we are doing in regard to public health vaccinations, what they are costing, the indemnity that we have given, and the pre-purchase and what it is costing. There needs to be a full discussion on that. We have completely ignored intellectual property rights. As was said by Deputy Gino Kenny, we are pushing ahead with making more billionaires on a trapped audience, and giving them an indemnity, but there is no parallel compensation system for those who might suffer.

The clock was not switched on so it is difficult for me to know what speaking time I have. As I have said before, it is not the Minister's fault that we are having a segmented discussion but we need an overall discussion in regard to what we are doing in public health. Vaccination is part of that but only part of it, so we need a proper and full discussion on all aspects in order to give us confidence.

With regard to the roll-out, I ask the Minister to come back at some stage and clarify that those in the 60-to-69 age group who, for various reasons, cannot take AstraZeneca, are not to be punished. That message is going out repeatedly. I think the Minister said today that there is no choice, although maybe I am wrong on that. Of course, there has to be a choice. Of course, there has to be a discussion between a doctor and the patient. The Minister cannot interfere with that. Sending out a message that people go to the bottom of the list and wait there is not good enough.

I am in a little trouble because I am not sure what speaking time I have.

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