John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today was due to be the day indoor hospitality reopened. We all know that last week a decision was made to pause that reopening, based on dire modelling figures presented to the Cabinet. Naturally, this has caused significant hurt and anger. I am especially sorry for those establishments which do not have outdoor seating areas and are restricted from even having limited opportunities to trade. A large number of those in my constituency in Waterford have been in contact in the past week.

Whatever we do, we have to make sure indoor hospitality is reopened in a safe manner and we use every mechanism possible, including antigen testing, to facilitate those who have not had the opportunity to get vaccinated yet. I am a 34-year-old who has not had the opportunity to register on the HSE portal for a vaccine. As I said last week, the last time I wished I was a year older, I was 17 and hoping to get into a pub or a nightclub but this time it was so I could get a vaccine to facilitate the same thing. I was especially happy to see pharmacies now being offered the opportunity to give the Johnson & Johnson vaccine through their network of approximately 800 pharmacies nationally. It is really welcome that we have done that and made that decision as a Government.

On a related point, it is essential to make sure that the details of any 18- to 34-year-old who goes that route from today are inputted into the HSE COVAX system, because that is being used for the issuing of the EU travel certificate. We have to make sure anyone who goes that route is not disadvantaged. I hope the House would agree that it would be appropriate to invite the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, into the House next week ahead of the 19 July reopening of travel.