Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is my pleasure to support my colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn, on his introduction of the subject of shingles in the Seanad today. Having suffered, and still suffering, the remains of it over the past year and a half, I concur with him on the severity of the illness which has been under the radar for so long. In the United States every person over 50 is recommended to get the vaccine against shingles and for the past two years a free vaccine has been introduced in the UK for everybody between the ages of 70 and 79. We owe a responsibility to older people in society to have a discussion on the matter. I can confirm that the vaccine is now available in this country but, as with most things, we are behind the times. I thank Senator Quinn for raising the matter.

I introduced a Bill that was supported in principle by the Government on the abolition of mandatory retirement. I take the opportunity to reaffirm what you, a Chathaoirligh, said about Councillor Ian McGarvey, who is in the Gallery, who at the age of 84 has successfully completed a term as chairman of Donegal County Council. I also welcome his wife of 82 years, Marjorie.