Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I begin by extending my sympathies and those of my party to the families and friends of the 27 people, including children, who died in the English Channel yesterday. This tragedy, I am sure the Tánaiste will agree, underscores the need for Europe and Britain to respond comprehensively to the issues because the current approach is simply not working. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

Tá fadhb mhór ann maidir le tástálacha polymerase chain reaction, PCR. Níl siad le fáil i mórchuid den Stát maidin inniu. Go simplí, tharla sé seo mar nach bhfuil an plean ag an Rialtas le dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb seo. Tá an phaindéim linn anois le thart ar dhá bhliain. Tá fadhbanna ann go fóill ó thaobh ár seirbhísí sláinte, lenár n-otharlanna, lenár scoileanna agus níl plean ar fáil go fóill maidir le tástálacha antigen ar chostas saor in aisce nó réasúnta. Ar an Rialtas atá an locht seo agus níl dabht ar bith ina thaobh sin.

I am sure we have all seen the comments this morning on social media and the bit of banter about how it is easier to get Garth Brooks tickets in this State than a PCR test. Other posters say they have Garth Brooks tickets which they are willing to swap for a PCR slot. While that might be a bit of light banter, the reality is very serious. It is impossible to book a PCR test in most of the State as we speak. There are no slots available in Dublin, Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford or Wicklow. There are no slots to be got for love nor money. In other counties there are a number of slots left, which I am sure will be gone in the next number of hours.

This is a direct result of the Government’s failure to plan, which has been seen time and again throughout the course of this pandemic. We see GP services overwhelmed and schools that are struggling and we still do not have a plan from Government to make antigen tests free or even subsidised. Nearly two years into this pandemic, we have a system that needs to be equipped to cope with higher levels of transmission, which were always a possibility. When we reopened our economy there was always a chance of higher transmission. Therefore, plans needed to be put in place and executed but the Government has failed drastically in this matter.

In our hospitals, especially intensive care units, ICUs, we see the sharpest impact. The ongoing capacity crisis in ICUs did not happen overnight or in the past number of months or, indeed, years. It is a legacy of successive Governments and Ministers for Health. The Tánaiste was one of those Ministers for Health and he was also Taoiseach during part of that time. The vaccination programme and restrictions gave us time to prepare our hospitals for the surges but that opportunity has been squandered. On the brink of Christmas, we now find ourselves in another crisis. That is inexcusable.

I heard the Tánaiste speaking on radio this morning. He does not seem to understand that for many people, not having access to a PCR test is the difference between getting paid or not. It is all well and good saying people should take a few days off while they wait for a test but for many workers and families, that is simply not an option. The Tánaiste's continued failure, as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to put in place a sick pay scheme has made this situation worse for thousands of workers.

Some counties have a very real problem, particularly in the east and south east, where people can wait for up to three days for a test. The HSE needs to be managed in respect of its resources and ensuring they are deployed where they are needed most. We need to boost capacity into the public system. We will have a need for a high volume of testing for the foreseeable future. We need an all hands on deck approach. We also need resources for laboratories and medical sciences and we need a quicker turnaround time.

I ask the Tánaiste to outline to the public, particularly in those counties where thousands of people cannot get a test today, what the Government is doing to respond to this. What is the plan or is it a case of the Government simply closing its eyes, crossing its fingers and hoping this goes away?

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