The Minister says the system of distribution for vaccines must be seen to be fair, safe and effective. What is he doing about the fact, as published by The Irish Times , that 800 people have been vaccinated outside of priority groups 1 and 2? Can he account for that fact? They are the most vulnerable and the sickest or potentially those who are most likely to suffer serious illness. How can 800 other people be vaccinated outside that cohort? What audit is the Department or the HSE carrying out to ensure there is fa…

This is an important debate. I welcome the Minister of State and the speech she made. We all have concerns in this House about Covid-19 and the impact is it having on people's mental health, in particular, in respect of the passing of people. I agree with Deputy Kelly on the point he made about family losses. Unfortunately, I lost my brother-in-law, Joseph Quinlan, yesterday to Covid. He was a great man for watching Tipperary play hurling and a very good husband. I know that other people here have also lost family …

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this important issue. Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School, Drogheda ETSS, is on Mill Road outside Drogheda. It currently has 110 students enrolled, an admissions cap of 72 for next year and 55 students on the waiting list. There is huge growth in the population in the area. Hundreds of houses are being built and there is major demand for education right where the school sits. The school has a three-year lease at present so there is no reason the Department of Educat…

The Minister of State does not have the full facts and I appreciate that is not her fault. There is plenty of room on that site. There is a three-year lease, of which this is the first year. I was out there yesterday. There is a large space in front of it and 20 prefabs could be put on it, not just two or three. The people will not move from this site. It would be unacceptable and outrageous that they would be asked to move four times to get the school they need. Some 2,000 parents have signed a petition and the ch…

I welcome the Minister to the House, and I have some serious questions to ask him. First, I pay tribute to people working in nursing homes where people are seriously ill, to the doctors, the nurses and the families who cannot visit their relatives and who are waiting, worried and extremely distressed. I welcome any initiatives the Minister can continue to undertake to supply services where they are requested by people working in nursing homes. Those people are doing a fantastic job, and they have unbelievable commi…

Perhaps the Minister could reply to me in writing further on that issue because I have some other questions.

That is not acceptable to the people who have been talking to me. I accept that the HSE is accountable but I am waiting to get an answer from it, as are many of the workers in the hospital. They are angry, concerned and frustrated. What happened at the Coombe hospital and elsewhere is not acceptable. I appreciate that this is not the Minister's fault. My other question is on vaccination in the community, which I am aware is to be carried out by GPs and pharmacists. Are issues relating to guidance and consent being …

Most of the debate here has been about housing and that is also the issue which I want to raise, but in a different way. I represent the constituency of Louth and east Meath where large housing developments are proceeding apace, particularly around Drogheda. The whole town is chock-a-block with traffic and major development needs remain unmet in the context of its designation as a regional growth centre in the national development plan. The biggest issue in Drogheda at the moment is what is called the port access n…

I also raise the national issue of housing assistance payment, HAP, tenancies and inspections being restricted because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the last year in Dublin, 10,500 homes were inspected for basic human needs, namely, adequate water, light, etc. Some 76% of these homes failed the inspections. I welcome the change the Minister made in the regulations requiring landlords to provide photographs of damage and the issues that have to be addressed before homes can be considered to meet the bas…

I welcome the debate and the Covid restriction support scheme. In my constituency, 820 businesses have benefited thus far, to the tune of €7.9 million, while nationally, notwithstanding the points made during the debate, more than 19,500 businesses are receiving supports worth €221 million. I come from a Border county, which is suffering greatly as a result of Covid and of the issue I wish to raise, namely, that the scheme does not extend to all businesses in the area. Carlingford Lough Ferry operates out of Carlin…

This is an important report and an important debate. I have listened carefully to what Members have said. I do not disagree with the fundamental point that an appalling crime was visited on all these families, in particular children. Something in the report struck me more than anything else, namely, the unacceptably high infant mortality rate in the first year of life, which was higher than anywhere known in the world at the time. More than 9,000 children, or more than 15%, died in the mother and baby homes. The re…

This is an important debate at a difficult time in our fight against Covid, not just here in Ireland but right across the world. We heard today of the potential overrunning of the ICU system in the United Kingdom, a new variant to the virus from Brazil and challenges left, right and centre. The biggest challenge we have here, however, is to look after our older people and to meet the requirements of their needs. I welcome all the support given and progress in this regard. Older people, particularly those over 70 an…

I had no clock.

There has been a significant increase in the incidence of Covid-19 in nursing homes, in which tens of thousands of people live day-to-day. If the vaccination date is, for example, next Tuesday and there is an outbreak before then, what happens? The Minister said if there was a small outbreak, vaccinations could continue but there is a question mark over cases of large outbreaks. There needs to be absolute clarity. I ask the Minister to ensure that all residents are tested if there is an outbreak. Anybody who has a …

I accept that there may be public health issues and I acknowledge them. However, if people in a nursing home do not have Covid and their vaccination date is due, and one can be assured by testing that they do not have Covid, it is essential that they get that vaccination.

I am happy to speak and I hope will not take anything like ten minutes.

I appreciate the Acting Chairman allowing not just Opposition Deputies but Government Deputies to make a contribution when they have come in late, like myself.

It is important that my voice be heard like other Deputies from other parties. It is important to articulate on behalf of our constituencies' needs which are real and growing. I welcome the Government initiatives in terms of their investment in the east Meath, south Louth, north Louth and mid-Louth areas. Some important projects have been completed. Considerable progress has been made at Lourdes hospital in terms of improvements, additional wards and investment in its health infrastructure. The extension of the DAR…

This is a very important debate. Like my constituency colleague, Deputy Ó Murchú, I will speak about representations I have received from people who live in the rural community, in Cooley particularly. Today, I got an analysis from people in a running club in Cooley who are very concerned about the future membership of their club and wanting to living in the area, schools and so on. A school in Cooley, which we know quite well, lost two teachers this year because of population reduction in the area which has create…

To clarify, I submitted this Topical Issue matter yesterday before last night's debate. It was not selected for last night's Topical Issue debate, but I wanted to make my views known clearly and emphatically. I know I represent the whole country, including every Deputy, regardless of political party, when I say that we greatly appreciate the almost 40,000 committed and dedicated nurses and midwives working in our hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. Along with all other healthcare staff, they h…