Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Taoiseach had a very difficult decision to make this week with the Cabinet but I cannot understand why he did not set out as parameters for NPHET that it had to be based on EU law and could not be discriminatory. Two months ago, Deputy O'Dea asked the Tánaiste that we would not engage in apartheid with regard to a vaccine pass. On 22 February, the Taoiseach said we will always bring people with us. This is a move away from that. What the Taoiseach is doing is discriminating, particularly against 200,000 people under the age of 35 who work in the hospitality industry. We cannot have a situation where the vaccinated will enjoy their summer because the unvaccinated will serve them. It is preposterous. It is morally totally wrong.

The Taoiseach rightly often asks the Opposition what it would do differently. I will say it straight: we have Janssen and AstraZeneca vaccines that can be pushed out quickly for 18 to 29-year-olds. Pharmacies can do the Janssen vaccines. Will the Taoiseach consider that?

Can we at long last start using antigen tests as part of the solution to ensure we do not have discrimination against young people? It is time to use antigen testing. Everywhere else in Europe uses it. I cannot understand why we are not.

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