Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I am aware that this is not a question-and-answer session but I would appreciate it if the Minister or the Minister of State could respond to some of these issues when replying. Like every other Deputy present, I welcome this morning's announcement regarding vaccine portals being opened up for those aged 18 to 34. This is something for which I have called repeatedly. It gives young people an opportunity to register in advance of returning to college in September. It will also be of benefit to those undertaking summer work and who find themselves stuck in different scenarios with regard to the proposed certification for indoor dining and so on. I will put on record that I personally have issues with the idea of certificates being required to dine indoors, to attend one's local pub or whatever the case may be further into the summer but I feel that today's announcement regarding the potential for those aged 18 years and older to get vaccinated renders the issue of certification moot. I do not think that system is practical or implementable in light of what has been announced this morning, which is very welcome.

I will also speak to vaccine hesitancy and the need to vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible. I concur with Deputy Barry who mentioned the idea of rewarding young people for getting vaccinated. We do not need to go down that road. Our rate of vaccine take-up is among the highest in the EU. The idea that was mooted this week is a non-runner. I do not believe there is a need for such inducements. As I said, our rate of vaccine take-up is among the highest in the EU. Will we, at some stage, have figures or a breakdown regarding those who have refused the vaccine? The reason I ask for this once more is so that we can try to tackle resistance to taking up the vaccine.

What plans are being made for vaccine top-ups in the autumn, the winter or into the future? It seems to be widely recognised that this will be necessary and I would like to know what preparations we have made. In addition, I would be interested to hear how the State is preparing to combat future pandemics. When will such an assessment be ready or published? Many of us here have been contacted over the past few weeks by people who are awaiting their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. They have been waiting nine or ten weeks, or longer. Will the Minister clarify NIAC's advice regarding reducing the interval between doses to four weeks? Will this lead to a further reduction in waiting times for those still awaiting their second dose?

I will also raise the issue of last night's "Prime Time Investigates" programme. Ballynoe Nursing Home is located on the north side of my constituency. Over a number of months, I have been seeking answers to questions raised by grieving families. I join the call for a public investigation into this issue. This is again something the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, on which I served, asked for last year. In light of what was reported last night, further delays are not acceptable. Some form of inquiry needs to be undertaken. Will the Minister confirm if any preliminary report or investigation has been conducted by himself, the HSE or any other relevant State actor?

I will also mention antigen testing. This is something I have pursued for the best part of 12 months. Judging from news reports this week, the Government is finally looking to undertake measures in this regard. We waited for the Ferguson report for a long time. Now that it has finally arrived, it needs to be implemented quickly.

I understand there are mentions of pilot programmes in relation to return to colleges but antigen testing is happening in private and public settings all over the country. I do not understand why we have not rolled it out to a greater level, as other EU states have. I have heard nobody in here argue that rapid antigen testing will replace PCR. It is time, in relation to the return of travel and of industries like hospitality, indoor dining and so on, to grab the bull by the horns and implement a proper, cohesive rapid antigen testing regime.

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