Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am not going to rerun the conversations on antigen or PCR tests. We just need to ensure that we have adequate testing capacity. We know what can be done and we know what needs to be done. The same goes for HEPA filtration in schools. Whatever streamlining is necessary just needs to be done.

We all know the difficulties we are facing at the minute with Omicron. While we do not know the full scale of what we will be dealing with, none of it is particularly good. We know that boosters are the way to go but we need to deal with issue of recording the fact that people have received boosters. We have had multiple teething problems rather late in the day. In my own constituency there were issues with Fairways Hotel vaccination centre. A number of people called to my office who had checked the system, heard reports on the media and understood that the centre was dealing with those over 50. That changed and the centre was only dealing with those over 60. In fairness, these people accepted that and were willing to move along with the system but we need to deal with these anomalies. We need to address the fact that GPs are operating a slightly different system from the one operating in pharmacies. We know that we need to maximise capacity and get it done.

It goes without saying that at a European level, we need the European Union to stop stalling vis-à-vis vaccine inequity and enacting a TRIPS waiver. We must play our part and call it out for what it is. We need to have decency and integrity at an international level. Beyond that, it is in our own self-interest because none of us is safe until all of us are safe.

I would like an update on the most recent cyberattack on the Coombe hospital. I do not have all the details but I believe the hospital is operating. We all know of the difficulties we have had in terms of cybersecurity, with a report published this week on weaknesses in the HSE. The National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, has a plan to upgrade its resources which is absolutely necessary. There has been much engagement on this but we need to do absolutely everything we can here because it looks like ransomware and cyberattacks are a pandemic that will be with us for a long time to come.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for her engagement on Sruthán House and necessary respite.

I hope there will be a solution on that.

The HIQA report shows that we still have serious issues around homecare. I know she is doing her upmost but we need to expedite it so that we can provide the resources and services that families need.

I wish the Minister of State a happy Christmas.

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