Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in commending our front-line workers who worked so tirelessly yesterday to keep us all safe. I say "míle buíochas" to them. I agree with Senator Lombard that there is a need for the Office of Public Works, OPW, to expedite flood defence schemes across Cork as a matter of urgency. I exhort the OPW and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, to get on with the work. Let us make sure we do not have any more conundrums about flooding and fear, in Cork city in particular.

The Deputy Leader and I served on the Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. I ask that we have a debate in this House on the review of the health Act of 2018. As somebody who is coming from a different vantage point from Senators Keogan and Mullen, I agree there is a need for a fair and balanced debate in the review. It is important we have that debate, recognising that the country has made a democratic decision but that as legislators we also have to uphold our side of the bargain.

I ask for the Minister for Health to come to the House and that we have a debate on our vaccination programme. I do so acknowledging we have a very successful vaccination programme, through which a million people have had their third shot or booster. It is inexcusable and unconscionable that people would not turn up for a vaccine and they should inform HSE personnel as to why they do not come, if they are not coming. There is also a need for members of An Garda Síochána to be prioritised in that vaccination programme. They are front-line workers at the coalface, with high visibility in our high streets and on our roads in advance of Christmas. I ask that we have a debate on the vaccination programme. I am conscious that the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, today has made a recommendation on the vaccination programme. We should debate it in this House.