We are running out of time, so I apologise to Deputy Bacik, who has been waiting. She will have time to put her question and get a response, although it will be limited.

My question is very specific. I ask the Minister about plans to extend the validity of the digital Covid-19 certificate to nine months for persons who have recovered from Covid-19 infection, particularly in view of HIQA's recommendation that the period of presumptive protective immunity following infection with Covid-19 should remain at nine months post infection.

We put down questions to be answered and this question is very specific. It is whether the Minister plans to extend the period. I had to ask this way because I failed to get an answer up to now. I know the Minister is extremely busy but this is a very specific matter. We have seen HIQA's report and a letter to the Minister from Dr. Tony Holohan in November, and I believe there was one before that. He sets out in a paragraph that based on the advice provided from HIQA, which I have already read, the NPHET further ac…

Will the Minister direct me to the regulation because I have not seen it? That is my own fault, I suppose, if the regulation is there. If he has it to hand, he might just quote the regulation and indicate when it was introduced and effected? Who has the Minister been advised by that the regulation will stand and not be changed? Who is making that advice? All the time we have endorsed NPHET and HIQA and, by and large, we go by their reports. Why are we ignoring the advice on this occasion? What evidence is there tha…

I heard that. The Minister's plan is not to extend that period.

I would also like to see the advice the Minister referred to. He said he has been advised the period will not be changed. I am sorry because I am breaking the rules.

The Minister might get back to me with that.

When I spoke earlier this week - I think it was yesterday but I have lost track of time - I was weary and I forgot the word "anagram" in regard to Omicron, the new variant, which is further down the Greek alphabet. Inexplicably, we missed many of the letters and came to that one. The word "Omicron" as an anagram means moronic. It was not I who came up with that but somebody who came into my office and shared her concerns with me. The word "moronic" is terribly derogatory, but there are many meanings to it, such as …

On the redress and compensation scheme, the Minister will remember the report that was done by Mr. Justice Charles Meenan about medical negligence generally. One of its recommendations was that a no-fault compensation scheme would be set up. Does the Minister remember that? Has he ever pondered that, thought about it or come back to us on it? We have heard a Member - I think it was one of the Fianna Fáil backbenchers - praise Pfizer and the pharmaceutical companies for the wonderful work they have done and for the …

I thank the Deputy.

Deputy Creed is way over time.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome this opportunity and I often claim there is no debate but we got time today to debate this Bill. However, I deplore the fact that the Bill only became available to Deputies late on Tuesday night. We had yesterday to look at it and it is up for discussion this morning. I could not possibly get through that Bill and analyse it in the manner that it deserves in that time so that is unacceptable. It should have been teased out in a committee. I am probably one of the few who does not welcome this Bill. I alwa…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta.

Deputy, there is a chairperson here, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, chairing the debate.

I am afraid the Deputy’s time is up.

Deputy Higgins can pick up the levity.

Amendments Nos. 19 and 20 are related and may be discussed together.

Amendments Nos. 26, 34 and 41 are related and will be discussed together.

I am sorry-----