Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask that the Minister for Health come back to the House for a debate on the vaccination programme. This week, we are heading towards another significant milestone with the 2 millionth dose of vaccine to be administered.It is hoped 250,000 people will be vaccinated this week. It is extraordinary that one of the most valuable assets we have is the community pharmacists but they are not being utilised at all in the ongoing vaccination programme. In the first iteration of the national Covid-19 vaccination strategy implementation plan, community pharmacists were identified in the report as having a central role. Since then, we have seen 27 changes to the vaccination programme but there is no sign of the involvement of community pharmacists despite them being trained vaccinators. I have to ask why. I know the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, spoke about it at the weekend but I certainly hope we can see community pharmacists being used in the vaccination programme.

I also want a debate on the Public Appointments Service, PAS. I want to give an example to the House and I hope the Cathaoirleach will indulge me. On 20 January, the Public Appointments Service advertised a vacancy on the board of the Dublin Airport Authority. The reason I raise this is that there is no Cork representation on the board of the Dublin Airport Authority, leaving aside worker directors. Cork Airport is the second busiest airport in the country. A number of people from Cork applied and did not come through the public appointments process. I know the people, although I will not name them. They are not political and they are eminently qualified and suitable people. There is something fundamentally wrong with the Public Appointments Service when qualified people cannot come through to serve on a board who have no political affiliation - none. I ask for a debate in the House on the Public Appointments Service, in particular in regard to the board of the Dublin Airport Authority.