Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending to discuss this important issue. I compliment the Government on the job it has been doing to date. Little did we think in February 2020 that we would be in the same situation in December 2021. I compliment those behind the roll-out of the vaccine programme. The vaccination centre in Limerick moved to a location just up the road from my house. Its work there started today. I was talking to somebody who works in the centre earlier and was told it has had a brisk day. This is good to see because the Patrickswell centre was not working.

We need a renewed campaign to get the message out. I have said before that when people see an advertisement ten times, it fades into the background and they no longer see the message. Some people still do not get the message so we need to find a new way of communicating the importance of getting vaccinated. While it is not proven that vaccination stops the disease from being transmitted, it certainly helps to reduce its severity. It is important that we encourage as many people as possible to get vaccinated. There is a small minority who, for medical or other reasons, could not be vaccinated. We must consider some sort of way leave for such people. There are those who have chosen not to be vaccinated but there are others who, for genuine medical reasons, cannot be vaccinated. We need to consider this.

I am glad the number of Covid cases in University Hospital Limerick is down. It was quite a worry for a while. The Minister will know there have been long waiting lists in the hospital. If the number rises again in the hospital, will private or other hospitals in the area be used so people will not be left waiting for various procedures? To date, they have been left waiting.

I cannot emphasise enough the plight of the hospitality sector over the past 18 months. We all agree that those in the sector are the most vulnerable. I would like the Government to consider keeping the employment wage subsidy scheme rate at its current level. Hoteliers and restaurateurs to whom I have spoken in the past 24 hours have had numerous cancellations. Cancellation is the customer's choice but the hotels and restaurants will have employed staff and bought food. They incur many losses. Therefore, we need to examine this matter with a view to supporting businesses. I thank the Minister for attending.