Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will move on to some of the key points. I agree with some of the points made by Senator Malcolm Byrne. Let us be clear. Everyone should be scheduled for a booster jab at six months post the second job. I do not know why we are delaying. We know the need is there and we know it is safe. We know how to do it. We should just do it. I will use my time to make a clear call again to anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to get out and get the vaccines. They are the best route to safety for all of us. There should be no equivocation on that point.

We need clarity on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, particularly for those aged over 50 who should have been boosted three months later. We also need clarity for those who are immunocompromised who, from what I can see at the moment, are being pushed and passed between the HSE and the GPs. We need clarity for childcare workers and those who work with unvaccinated and vulnerable populations.

On antigen testing, I have heard today of one family who are on day eight of waiting for the antigen test to be sent out by the HSE. There are real problems here. It would be much simpler to have antigen tests distributed locally through pharmacy services. I am trying to be constructive. There is a problem in trying to get those antigen tests out in a timely manner.

There are also PCR testing delays. We all know about this. A person can be waiting two or three days sometimes to get the PCR test. People are being pushed into getting private tests. I have heard that people are being charged €159 for a PCR test to make sure they are not going to work or sending their child to school while sick.

On the Covid-19 certificates, so far the Minister has not issued guidance on clinical exemptions. They are few but they do exist and are being ignored. This is being introduced in the North and I would like a timeline as to when the Minister is going to deal with that. It is an important point.

I must also talk about the schools issue. I want to be very clear that Sinn Féin's point of view is that no child should be denied an education because of the Government's failures in respect of Covid-19. The Minister will be aware that parents received alerts through their school apps late last night to say that it is now mandatory for children from third class and upwards to wear a mask in school all day, effective immediately. Proper air filtration and contact tracing is what is needed in our schools, not directives that assume non-co-operation from parents. The absolute inability of the Minister for Education to address the severe lack of substitute teachers, large class sizes, and the over-reliance on prefabricated buildings for classrooms is what the Minister for Education should be putting her energies into, not punishing children. I continue to be concerned and alarmed at the language used about children throughout the pandemic. From the start, they were described as vectors, which makes it so unfair that children have been targeted again. The Children's Rights Alliance and other organisations have called for clear advice to be issued to schools before any directive from the Government to ensure that schools can take account of each child's needs in accessing his or her right to an education. What transpired last night was actually the exact opposite. Parents who know that their child will find it difficult or impossible to wear a mask in school will now need a medical certificate from their GP to allow for an exemption from wearing a mask. This will place further strain on already overstretched GP practices, many of which have been scathing of this requirement.

Unfortunately, I am running out of time but let me say briefly that we need much better communication. There have been too many mixed messages in respect of antigen testing and schools. I also seek information from the Minister on anti-viral medications. These look like a real positive that should be available from early 2022. We need to know when they will be available. The Government cannot be found wanting when such medication does become available. There have been very promising clinical trials and this could play a key role in combating Covid-19 early next year. I am out of time now but I look forward to the Minister's response.