Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Two years ago, the collaborative forum recommended that health and well-being supports be put in place for survivors of institutional abuse and their families. The Government finally committed to rolling out these supports from the beginning of this year. However, no supports were delivered. Only after the recent records debacle did it announce survivors can avail of counselling through the national counselling service. This is not good enough. Time and again, survivors and families have said they need a dedicated point of support for their specific emotional needs. They also need to be signposted to the social and economic state supports. This is what the victim support service in the North offers. Through the Deputy Leader, I urge the Ministers relevant to care and support for victims to engage with their Executive colleagues in the North on how a similar bespoke service can be rolled out here in this State.

I welcome the roll-out of the Pfizer vaccine in the North. I say this with great hope. I am sure it has come as a great announcement of hope for many people, not least the most vulnerable and at risk in our society. It has to be those people who are most vulnerable and most at risk who need to be prioritised, North and South, in the roll-out of any vaccine. While welcoming the news, it seems I will get it before all of the Members so they should keep an eye on me. I very much encourage people to heed the scientific and medical advice to put aside the conspiracy theories, some of which are quite dangerous and very unsettling and concerning.There is a specific role for us. in terms of political leadership, to ensure we face that sentiment down in order to make sure that people avail of the proper vaccines and that this is rolled out as soon as possible in the most effective way.

In saying that, I echo what has been said many times in this Chamber, namely, that we cannot afford to let our guard down. Christmas is approaching. While restrictions have been relaxed in this State and while there may also be a change in restrictions in the North in the coming days and weeks, we must ensure that we try to have as normal a Christmas as possible. We all accept that it will not be a normal Christmas and we have to act responsibly in that regard. I encourage people, in welcoming the hopeful and positive announcements in recent days and weeks on vaccines, to remember to be píosa ciallmhar. Níl i bhfad eile uainn and once we get through Christmas and the roll-out of this vaccine, hopefully we will see a significant change for the better for everyone.