Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. It is always good to see him. We know that the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus is more contagious. It is still spreading very fast. As the Minister has indicated, thankfully it appears to be less severe. ICU numbers remain fairly low, although each person in ICU is one too many. In the context of cases, the numbers are small. It is important to note that the virus is still very dangerous for immunocompromised people. Speaking as one of those people, I have no doubt that the vaccines and boosters I received saved me from serious illness a few weeks ago. It is important that the Government does not forget its obligations to immunocompromised people. It must put in place supports to help to keep them safe while retaining access to society during what remains a challenging period for them.Many people have suffered and continue to suffer from long Covid symptoms, some more severely than others, and it would be good to hear from the Minister what supports are there for people. We need to keep encouraging the wearing of masks in crowded settings, on public transport and generally at places of work to keep one another safe. The importance of vaccination and getting boosters should also continue to be highlighted, particularly in light of the point the Minister has made about the relatively poor take-up of boosters.

Given that NPHET has been stood down, there is now an issue with transparency as to what advice is given to the Minister or the Government. Any public health advice given should be fully published whenever the Minister is given an update.

The underlying problems in the health system have been put on full display again since "normal" services, if we can call them normal, have been resumed. It will not surprise the Minister to hear that I will have to mention the situation at University Hospital Limerick, where there are serious issues of overcrowding and cancelled appointments, and recent reports of rows of ambulances parked outside the hospital, unable to offload patients. Then there are the trolley numbers. The number of patients on trolleys in Limerick was at an all-time high of 1,059 in March of last year. In March of this year, the figure was at its highest ever at 1,671, more than 500 more than last year's record. It is nothing short of scandalous. No doubt the situation is exacerbated by Covid-19, but the problems in accident and emergency departments have been there for years. Now, unfortunately, they are becoming a disaster at University Hospital Limerick. We need to see a plan that allows hospitals to maintain services while still being able to cope with Covid cases. The Government needs to do everything possible to ease the burden on front-line healthcare workers.

I wish to mention those healthcare workers and carers who have worked tirelessly and heroically over the past two years. The Government has given very little recognition to carers, which is regrettable. Carers got no respite and little or no help as services closed down. They were forgotten about and continue to be left behind as they will not be included in the bonus payment for healthcare workers, of which we really need to see the details. The Covid-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers was announced months ago but the detail does not seem to have been worked out yet, which is a little baffling.

In the few seconds left to me I will raise one final issue. As the Minister will know, tomorrow we will deal with the safe access zones Bill and there has been a cross-party coalition of the willing to support the Together for Safety Bill. He will also know that, unfortunately, there has been no Government Bill on the matter to date. I gave the Minister a commitment that we would work with such a Government Bill if it were to arrive. Not only is there no such Bill, however, but the Minister will know that the Department confirmed just two weeks ago to the health committee that there is no timeline as to when the Bill will arrive. The only Bill to deal with safe access zones is the Bill we will debate tomorrow. I ask for an indication that the Minister will continue to facilitate the passage of that Bill. I am sure he and I agree that women and pregnant people should not have to wait one second longer. We have protests daily in Limerick and Dublin at present, during Lent. It is intolerable. Activists from the campaign have been called at work and targeted in the most vicious of ways. I hope for a positive indication from the Minister on that point ahead of tomorrow.