Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to speak about an issue that was brought to my attention yesterday. It is do with an eleven-year-olds and basketball. I have been led to believe that the decision was made by Basketball Ireland that children can go to their basketball training, but they cannot play a match because they are not vaccinated. We have not started vaccinating that age group. This 11-year-old and friends have been training.They were getting ready for their match only to be told they can no longer have matches. Children have been through so much with Covid. They were so excited about upcoming matches and now they cannot have them. If Basketball Ireland has made this decision, I believe it is wrong. We have not given 11-year-olds the opportunity to be vaccinated yet.

I saw today in the news that it is envisaged people aged under 60 years who have underlying health conditions will be offered the vaccine next. This is very welcome along with the healthcare workers. As healthcare workers especially are working with people daily, it is important to welcome the news they are being vaccinated and that people with underlying health conditions are to be provided for too.