Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will raise two related matters concerning Covid-19. There is a six-month interval between the second vaccination and the proposed booster. Has the Government considered asking the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, to see if the interval can be brought back to five months? It is officially six months but the committee indicated it will consider an interval of five months. The Taoiseach has already referenced a cohort, including those who got the AstraZeneca vaccine, and through no fault of their own they will get a booster much later than people who have got Pfizer, Moderna or Janssen shots.

There are 95 people on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick today, which is the highest number ever recorded. There are 45 people in the hospital with Covid-19 and nearly 30%, or 13, are in intensive care. I acknowledge the phenomenal work by staff at University Hospital Limerick. If they make a proposal for further funding under the winter plan, will it be granted?

See this speech in context