Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2021-03-25
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Leo Varadkar (FG), Dublin West

I am very sorry to hear about Seán's passing and I extend my condolences to his family as well. I know how difficult the last year or so has been, particularly for people who have been bereaved. Whether it was a consequence of Covid, not being able to grieve in the normal way that we do has been really hard on thousands of families across the country.
The message on Tuesday will be one of hope. I, along with the Government, am hopeful. We have vaccines now and they work. We know they will allow us to live with this virus in the future in a way that we have not been able to in the year gone by.
It will also have to be a message of honesty and realism, however, because we are not there yet. Cases are rising again and we are genuinely concerned about the possibility of a fourth wave before the summer and before we have had time to vaccinate those most at risk. It will be the middle of May before we vaccinate all the over 70s and all those under 70 who have medical conditions. That has to be the priority.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2021-03-25/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:49:09+00:00
Sitting date: 2021-03-25