Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have given way to Senator Buttimer in recent weeks and he was damn glad to avail of the privilege.

I commend the Leader, Senator Regina Doherty, and the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan, on comments they made yesterday on this matter.

On the roll-out, Professor Liam Fanning of UCC has suggested that fully vaccinated people should be allowed to meet in pods. I wonder whether the Minister has a view on that.

There appears to be a difference between how GPs and dentists are treated in terms of how they are to be paid for administering vaccines. GPs, it appears, are being paid €35 per dose administered. Dentists are being recruited to work in mass vaccination centres but are being offered €27 an hour. That disparity may eventually cause a widespread refusal among dentists to volunteer. It seems a strange situation. My dentist mentioned this to me in recent days and said there is anger about it. I would be grateful for a response on that.