Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is very welcome. The question regarding these regulations is a simple "Why?". What need is there for the expansion of testing and vaccination centres? Is it primarily for testing or for vaccinations? I find it hard to believe we need to ramp up the vaccination roll-out given we have administered just shy of 11 million vaccine doses - unless we are planning for a second booster. Perhaps it is for testing. What evidence is there our current testing centres are insufficient or being overrun? Perhaps that is the case. I am sure we would like to have that shown. How many testing centres are operating currently? What is the cost of staffing and maintaining them?What is the cost of running these proposed temporary centres? What agreements will be made with the owners of the occupied structures? Would reimbursement feature?

The Minister for Health has said that because of the transmissibility of the disease, the only way to suppress it is a full lockdown and there is no justification for that. While the regulation is not massively problematic, it needs to be shown that it is necessary and deserving of being passed in this House. Vaccinations can be done in our doctors' surgeries and our local pharmacies. I do not believe this regulation is needed. I hope the Minister of State can address my queries.