Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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3018. To ask the Minister for Health the specific section of which specific legislation in which it was provided that Ireland should conduct a free Covid-19 vaccination programme to every adult and child in Ireland and thereby authorise payment from State funds to purchase such medical treatments for the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40000/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The World Health Organisation declared that the outbreak of the novel coronavirus constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020. In response to this unprecedented public health concern, the Government has sought to ensure the safe, effective and efficient administration of Covid-19 vaccine to all residents of Ireland who wish to receive it and for whom it is deemed clinically safe.

The Government established the High-Level Task Force (HLTF) on Covid-19 Vaccination on 10 November 2020. The HLTF acts to support my Department and the HSE to deliver a Covid-19 immunisation programme as a critical public health intervention in the prevention and control of Covid-19.

In collaboration with my Department and the HSE, the HLTF developed the National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy, and this was approved by Government on 15 December 2020. The Strategy’s objective has been to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of vaccines to the population.

The Covid-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy was developed in conjunction with the National Covid-19 Vaccine Strategy. The Allocation Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee’s (NIAC) and outlined a provisional list of groups for vaccination and was approved by Government on 8 December 2020. The Allocation Strategy has been kept under review in the intervening period and amended as new evidence emerged.