Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend Irish Families Through Surrogacy, members of which were outside Leinster House today to raise awareness among Members of the Seanad and the Dáil in regard to their simple demand that the Government legislate in order that their children can be afforded the same rights as every other child in Ireland. It is not an extravagant demand; it is a very basic human request. England legislated for this in the 1980s. These families feel failed by previous Governments. They welcome that this Government has given a commitment to legislate to create a legal and ethical framework that will protect everybody, children and parents. I ask the Leader to write to the Ministers for Health, Justice and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to draw their attention to the demonstration today, to urge them to deliver on the Government's commitment and to ensure that the legislation brought forward commits not only to giving them the basic human right of affording them the same rights as every other child in Ireland, but includes provisions for international surrogacy.

The second issue I wish to raise today is that of vaccines. We are all very proud of the vaccine roll-out in Ireland and of how Ireland has been a huge success globally in terms of vaccine roll-out. We commend everybody involved in that process. However, there is growing concern among people who received the Janssen single-dose Covid-19 vaccine.There is concern about the waning efficacy of that vaccine. Will the Leader write to the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to seek clarity on its intention regarding those who received the Janssen vaccine. Is its intention to recommend a Pfizer second dose, a booster, for those people?

I want to commend everyone involved in the roll-out of booster vaccinations to those over 65 years and those in our nursing homes. It is welcome that all those front-line healthcare workers have also been approved for the booster vaccines. However, the Janssen vaccine cohort is concerned and needs reassurance. It would be most welcome if the Leader could seek that assurance.