David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister said, and rightly, that we all have a responsibility to get the message out about the threat posed by the Delta variant. We do. I take my responsibilities very seriously in that regard because it is a threat. Right through the pandemic, my overriding objective has been to keep people safe. That has to be what we all do. Decisions that have to be made are never easy and a curtailment of people's individual freedoms is really difficult. We had hoped that we were out the gap to some degree but now the Delta variant has given rise to complications. We have to look at how we manage that variant as best we can. However, while we in opposition have a responsibility to ensure that that public health message is given, the Government has a responsibility to present the plan.

On Tuesday, we all anticipated and expected a plan from the Taoiseach about the safe reopening of indoor dining. I accept that recommendations were given to the Government on Monday or Tuesday by NPHET and that recommendations came from NIAC on Monday evening in respect of changes in the vaccine roll-out, but we also have to be honest. Those of us in opposition have been on the media in recent weeks. One of the main areas of discussion has been the possibility that the medical experts could recommend pausing the reopening of indoor dining, at least for two weeks. What was the Government doing during that two-week period? Industry tell us that it had no serious engagement during that time. What NPHET actually presented to the Government was modelling with different scenarios - it has to look at every eventuality - and that modelling has all sorts of assumptions underpinning it.

That is the purpose of contingency planning. The Government should have been doing that and then presented a plan on Tuesday based on having worked out all of the contingencies, engaging with the sector and building in the public health advice that was given at a particular time. Let us be honest: what the Taoiseach said on Tuesday is that we do not have a plan but that we will come back in a couple of weeks, on 19 July, and will hopefully have one by then.

That said, I welcome the engagement that is now taking place with the sector. I want a safe reopening of indoor dining and hospitality for everybody. I do not want to see anybody left behind. As the Minister is aware, social cohesion is important. To take steps which, for example, would leave young people behind would be impractical and problematic. The Government's focus must be to put in place a plan that allows for the safe reopening of indoor hospitality and indoor activities for everybody. The clear ingredients for that include an accelerated roll-out of the vaccine. I welcome the changes that have been made for those in the 18 to 34 age bracket and that vaccines will be made available for them through pharmacists from Monday next. That is going to be important.

We must make sure that the over-60s are vaccinated as quickly as possible. I got my second dose of the Moderna vaccine yesterday, but I know family and friends who are over 60 and who are still waiting for their second dose. Is that fair? I do not believe so. When the vaccine roll-out was first presented to us, we were told that we had to vaccinate the most vulnerable quickest. That did not happen because of the way various vaccines were administered to different age cohorts. I know that was based on recommendations from NIAC but I simply make the point that there is not just an irony, there is an unfairness in me and, possibly, the Minister and others getting our second doses and being fully vaccinated, yet there are some in the over-60s category who are not.

I anticipated that this would be a question-and-answer session but it is only statements. I will, however, ask some questions and the Minister might be able to come back with the answers. NPHET outlined four scenarios - one pessimistic, two in the centre and one optimistic. When will the changes the Minister announced and signed off on today be factored into that modelling? When will we see revised assumptions and estimations in respect of case numbers, hospitalisations and ICUs? That is important for public confidence. That is the first question.

Are we going to see a plan for everybody brought forward by the Taoiseach on 19 July? Is it possible that there will be more delays? It is important that people have a sense that we will get a plan the next time. As part of that, we must also see revised timeframes and a revised scheduling for the vaccine roll-out. Some of the data the Minister provided is welcome, but more information is necessary.

I had a question on how many Janssen and AstraZeneca vaccines will be available for the 18 to 34 age cohort in the next while. If I read what the Minister said correctly, it is that there will be approximately 305,000 in total - 205,000 doses of Janssen and 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca.

See this speech in context