Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Murphy's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. In doing so, I compliment him on the great work he has put into that issue. He has come up with a very common-sense approach to what is an ongoing issue.

I will raise an issue that both the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Cathaoirleach will possibly tell me before I am finished is more appropriate to a Commencement matter, but I received a message regarding it last night, we are in recess next week and it is important it is brought to the House. My lobbying will be strengthened by something from the House. A member of the Irish diaspora in Canada turned up at the airport to come home, unfortunately, for his father's funeral. He was fully vaccinated and had his certificate stating same, but he was told Ireland did not recognise mixed vaccinations and he was sent away to get a test. He had to go home and come back the next day. He just made the funeral by a matter of hours but could equally have missed it.

This is a vitally important issue. I will make personal representations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Health, or whoever is responsible for areas outside the EU where its digital Covid-19 certificate does not apply, particularly for people of Irish origin and Irish citizens.Some of those people got mixed vaccinations, but it is important that we recognise that they are vaccinated. They have the certification that states they are vaccinated. The fact that it may have involved the use of two different vaccines may be a bonus, as many people would tell us. Apparently, however, the man to whom I refer was told that the authorities in Ireland are not recognising mixed vaccinations. He was sent home to get a test and then barely made it back to his father’s funeral by the skin of his teeth.

It may well have been more appropriate for me to address the Minister directly about this issue. As we are in recess next week, I would appreciate if the Leader and the House would strengthen my case with the Minister in this regard by adding their voices in support of the necessity of recognising the vaccination status of Irish and non-Irish residents abroad. If these people are vaccinated, they are vaccinated, and this issue must be addressed.