Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Covid is a terrible virus and sickness, and it is with us to stay. The level of vaccination, at more than 90%, is extremely high. As I said, science has done its job and the medical professionals have done theirs. The Government now needs to do its job. The fact is that the lack of capacity within our health service leaves us vulnerable still. It means there is a panic right across society when infection levels, hospitalisations and ICU admissions rise. That is all down to capacity.

I put it to the Taoiseach that the Government did not make additional provision for as much as one new inpatient bed in the budget. That is a fact. Provision was made for 19 new ICU beds, but that is a drop in the ocean. Everybody knows that at the heart of our dilemma, with a highly vaccinated population and people doing their best and being very thoughtful and cautious, we are still left with this huge vulnerability in terms of healthcare and hospital capacity. The professionals are telling the Taoiseach this. He knows this; it is not just me saying it.

See this speech in context