Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ireland set up in recent years technological universities throughout the country and we are very proud of that. I was present of the Teachers Union of Ireland during the initial stages of that and I was struck by the commitment of staff in all of the former institutes of technology to get behind the drive to bring the technological universities about. There were difficulties, which we resolved as we moved through them. However, I am deeply, deeply concerned now to find that Munster Technological University is on a collision course for industrial action. There seems to be a breakdown of communication between the union representatives on the ground and the management of the university. This is something that we need to highlight. It never ceases to amaze me that it is Irish statutory institutions that seem to buck the system far more than the private sector when it comes to staff relations, the appointment of positions and the like. There are difficulties in Munster. The management of Munster Technological University must engage with the staff and must go through formal procedures when it comes to the appointment of senior positions within the technological university. I would ask that the Leader maybe drop the Minister, Deputy Harris, a note on that and advise him that there is an issue there that needs to be addressed.

I spoke about the issue of Covid-19 and the booster vaccines a few days ago. It is a matter of great concern to me that people in my own age group are not sure when they will be vaccinated. My consultant said to me that I need a booster because I am an at-risk patient with a coronary issue and diabetes. My GP says he knows nothing about this. We have this constant sort of mixed message coming out which is feeding into the anti-vaccination, anti-vax, lunatics who are out there. I do not want to see our hospital beds full of people who will not get vaccinated, let alone - if I find myself at risk and I need one - that there is not a bed available for me. We need to get the message out there straight as to exactly when each age group will be vaccinated and who is responsible for that booster. We need to get up and running fairly quickly.

I am delighted to see antigen testing coming in.I also was delighted to see many of the institutions and organisations I visited in recent days demanding a certificate before I got into the building. We want to see more of that. If we can do something in that area, I would like to see it.

Finally, the Minister for Defence has once again put the Army front and centre to deliver booster vaccines. It would be great if he sorted out the 700 members with post-1994 contracts who will leave the Defence Forces in the next few months. As 700 people will be lost because we have not acted, again I ask the Leader to contact the Minister and ask him to make a statement as to how soon we can see that post-1994 issue resolved.