Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree that it is a complex situation. I think of my own parents at home. There are many people living as individuals or couples who are elderly, for most of whom vaccination will happen through their GPs.

In addition to the carer-led setting the Minister of State referred to, there are quite a few religious houses in the country where everybody is elderly. There might be one 65-year-old living with three or four others who are well into their 70s. The point could be made that where three or more are gathered and there is a carer in their midst, the vaccine should be there as quickly as possible. I presume it is something we will have to do as we get queries from people to intervene and to contact the HSE on their behalf.We hope it is understood that the intention is not to jump any queue, but there appears to have been a lack of joined-up thinking. That is the regret in this situation. This is a difficult time and such things happen in systems, but there is a concern that the HSE was on hand last summer and gave great support yet, in hindsight, information was not collated for the vaccines quickly enough in the way that it should have been. Is that not why we are playing catch-up?