John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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119. To ask the Minister for Health if the position with regard to the attendance of partners during labour and birth has changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36597/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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120. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine immunisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42344/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme, as soon as one or more vaccines in the EU portfolio are approved for use.  In this regard a High-Level Taskforce was established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme.

The Taskforce is supporting my Department and the HSE in developing national COVID-19 vaccination strategy and implementation plan due to be submitted by Friday, 11 December.   I will then bring the plan to Government for consideration and subject to the outcome of this discussion, it is the intention that the Vaccination Strategy and Implementation Plan will be published.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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121. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to minimise the liability to the State under the proposed indemnity for Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42240/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is currently involved in an EU Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of member states to procure a portfolio of suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.

As part of the exercise, Ireland has already opted into an Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) with AstraZeneca (partnering with Oxford University); Janssen (Johnson & Johnson); BioNTech / Pfizer; CureVac and Moderna.

The content of the Advance Purchase Agreements, including with regard to liability / indemnity, are negotiated with vaccine suppliers by the European Commission and its negotiation team acting on behalf of Member States. Member States may decide to opt in / opt out, but do not have scope to recast the provisions of any APA. Responsibility for claims management will be assigned to the State Claims Agency.