Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is the reality. People sometimes ask when they can have their vaccinations. I get that question every day, and several times a day, as does the Minister of State. Most Irish people have been fantastic. However, one or two people, whom I know have not been following the regulations, to be blunt about it, have asked me when they will get their vaccinations.I simply ask them when they are going to wash their hands, keep their distance and do what they are supposed to do. That is 50% of this debate and it is very important. A minority of people have been responsible for the pandemic getting out of control.

Why in the name of God, when we have a 5 km limit on travel, do we have four or five flights per week coming from the Canary Islands? These are not people from the Canary Islands coming to holiday in Ireland but Irish people, some of whom will ask me when they can be vaccinated. At the same time, overburdened nurses, doctors and helpers in our hospitals, some of whom work double shifts to help their friends, are holding the hands of relatives and friends dying from Covid. I stress again that it is a minority who are involved, as the Minister of State knows, but it is treachery by some of our fellow citizens. No matter what any politician, health expert or government does, it will all be in vain if we cannot get our people, even if it is a minority, to follow what we have been asked to do by the medical experts. For all of my life, my view has been that I am not in a position to challenge a medical expert. As much as 99.9% of what people like Dr. Holohan and others have told us has been right. We might not like to admit it but they have been very accurate all along. Again, I beg the small minority who are at this behaviour to stop and to follow the rules.

The carry-on of AstraZeneca has been extraordinary considering that it received more than €60 million from the European Union to proceed with its vaccine. The company is now telling us it will have to reduce by 60% the number of vaccines it provides to Europe, yet it will supply vaccines to other countries. That demands answers. I applaud Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, for challenging the company because it needs to answer questions. I hope there are no dirty tricks or trickery going on with this British-Swedish company. I would like to say more but I will not do so. AstraZeneca has serious questions to answer. If, in good faith, it takes an advance order from Ireland or any other country in Europe and then suddenly says it cannot honour it, having received taxpayers' money from EU member states to develop the vaccine, it must be challenged and give answers without delay.

When Ireland faces such challenges, it is sometimes hard for the Government to deliver on its promises. However, I am optimistic for the future as I believe more vaccines will come on stream and we will get rid of the virus. I am sure we will all be delighted and thrilled when that happens, although that is a number of months away. When we get rid of the virus we will look back and say it was tough, hard and challenging but we have done it.

I have two short questions for the Minister of State, which she may have clarified already. When will people in residential care homes be vaccinated? When will young adults who attend special needs centres be vaccinated? If she cannot give me the answers today, I ask her to revert to me.