Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have never been happier to tick the box which states I am in the 40 to 44 age group than when I did so today. The purpose of the digital green certificate is to facilitate the safe movement of citizens within the EU during the pandemic. It is valid in all EU member states for people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and others. There are people from the North, who live in the South and availed of the vaccine in the North. They are wondering where they stand respect of this issue. There are also people who normally live in the South but returned to the North to work from home during lockdown. They, too, have questions.

The digital green certificate should be available to everybody on this island. It is an opportunity for North-South relationships to shine at a sensitive time, irrespective of what is actually happening with the common travel area issue. Third level students from colleges in Northern Ireland will still be able to study in Europe under the Erasmus+ programme. The European health insurance card provides access to emergency healthcare in all EU member states. In respect of the digital green certificate, the Irish Government should put in place special measures to ensure all people on this island can get access to a digital green certificate and not just those with Irish passports.

I would also quickly like to ask the Minister about the Sinopharm vaccine that is being administered to teachers in schools in the United Arab Emirates. Will that vaccine also be recognised here?