Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I am afraid not. We bought the anti-virals two or so years ago at a cost of €30 million. They had been in storage and are now being used. The same applies to the vaccine.

We have had very close co-operation with Minister McGimpsey in Northern Ireland and I have had many conversations with him. We have linked closely with the UK because we share this island with the Northern Ireland authorities, so it is important we work together. We are at one in regard to many of these issues. Northern Ireland has joined the queue as have many other European countries.