David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are in a race between the variant and the vaccine roll-out. We all want the roll-out to win. Yesterday, the Taoiseach stated that more people needed to be vaccinated more quickly. I agree and we all want to see that, but where is the plan? People were looking for a plan for an accelerated vaccine roll-out yesterday, but we did not see it. For the past number of weeks, we have been looking to have statements on the roll-out with the Minister in the Dáil. The Government did not provide the time. We have been calling for mixing and matching of the various vaccines for the older age cohorts, including those aged over 60 years. The Government is only looking at that now. Yesterday, we were told that we could have a two-tiered reopening of indoor hospitality, which would be problematic. Confirmations and First Communions have been paused, causing people concern. The route out of this is to accelerate the vaccine roll-out. When will we see the revised plan? We need to see it quickly. It is the key ingredient in whatever future plan is put in place to reopen hospitality.

See this speech in context