Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I echo the words of Senator O’Donovan and thank him for his remarks. Having experience of epilepsy in my family, it is important that we talk about it, share information and make sure people have such information. I say fair play to Senator O’Donovan agus gabhaim buíochas leis.

I note a significant lifting of restrictions across the Six Countries this morning and wish people there a safe return to work and to a wide variety of activities and amenities. I encourage them to enjoy it but to do so safely and in line with the continued guidance and advice. In that spirit, and I certainly do not want to get into any mud-slinging because it does not warrant it, but I am concerned about remarks from the Minister of Health in the North about the failure to get a response from the Minister here, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, regarding a meeting he sought more than two weeks ago in terms of strategising, all-island engagement and joined-up messaging. We are at a point where we are moving ahead, thankfully, but we are at different junctures, North and South, in terms of vaccine roll-out and the lifting of restrictions. It is crucial now, more than ever, that Ministers, North and South, are effectively joined at the hip to ensure the steady, navigating out of the current restrictions and difficulties we face. It is not good enough to hear about this via the airwaves or that our Ministers are communicating via the airwaves. While official level engagement is welcome and important, we are at a point where both Ministers need to engage regularly and crucially on this important issue as we move forward.