David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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572. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the reopening of amusement parks (details supplied) is not permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25666/21]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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573. To ask the Minister for Health if a plan has been formalised for the sharing of Ireland’s excess Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25671/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is participating in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.

Four vaccines have been authorised by the EU, and a number of vaccine candidates are still to be fully assessed.  Ireland fully supports efforts by the international community, including as an EU Member State, to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines for all. To contribute towards this objective, Ireland will utilise the sharing mechanisms available through the EU procurement structure. It is expected that COVAX will be central to this sharing mechanism. With the continuing progress of the domestic vaccination program, greater clarity on the available quantities of vaccines doses and the initial timing that these can be shared with COVAX, is becoming apparent. The Department is in current liaison with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission and COVAX to ensure that Ireland’s participation, in concert with other Member States, happens in a timely and proportionate manner.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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574. To ask the Minister for Health the reason persons in County Wexford are being asked to travel to Greystones, County Wicklow for their Covid-19 vaccinations in view of the fact there is a Covid vaccination centre in Enniscorthy, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25675/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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575. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered allowing those vaccinated with WHO approved Covid-19 vaccines as well as EMA approved vaccines to be exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine and quarantine at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25676/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Persons who are fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine and have the documents confirming this do not have to complete mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival in Ireland. Any dependents travelling with such persons, including children, will also be exempted from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine.

The current policy is to accept vaccines that have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) only. This policy is kept under review in relation to further developments at a European level.

Fully vaccinated for the purpose of Mandatory Hotel Quarantine means: