I thank the Acting Chairman and the Ministers for the opportunity to say a few words on the report of last week as this is my first opportunity to do so. I agree with many colleagues in the many excellent points that have been made, none more so than Deputy Connolly, who hit the nail on the head for me on this issue. I will make some points generally about the report towards the end of my contribution but I want to initially put on record the testimony and words of a very brave individual who is a friend of mine fo…

Like the previous speaker, I will use my time to put a few matters on record. I can liaise with the Minister at a later date. She knows better than me that young people have suffered disproportionately throughout the Covid crisis. Everybody has suffered and it is difficult for everybody, but I believe young people, both primary and secondary school pupils, have suffered a great deal and have often been wrongly fingered for a proportion of blame when there were outbreaks of the coronavirus. Other speakers have allud…

I am aware that everything is very much underpinned by Covid at the moment but I did have an opportunity twice yesterday on that matter and earlier on secondary education. It is not that I am neglecting that as a most important matter but as this is statements on higher education, I want to focus specifically on the higher education area and on our plans as a State for the north west. Both the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, as well as all Deputies in the House and particul…

I understood I was to have four minutes. Is that the case?

Are you cutting me out then?

What is the story? Do I speak?

No clock came up when Deputy O'Dowd rose.

He knew he had four minutes and I knew he had four minutes. We had discussed it with our respective Whips. Is it within the bounds of possibility that we could consider a very mild amendment to allow the extra few minutes so we can get in line? We can get the list to the Ceann Comhairle now.

Can we start with four minutes now and we will all be en route ?

For the sake of eight or ten minutes can we start with four minutes now?

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for this opportunity. The Taoiseach uttered a very important line earlier with which I very much agree, although as a nation we are exceptionally poor at it. He stated it is the duty of the Republic to hold itself to account. We never do that, to be honest, until we are dragged, kicking and screaming. Normally we deny, delay and defend, circle the wagons, and dress up mediocrity as efficiency. That is what we do. It gives me no pleasure to say that vaccination preparation and roll-out in…

As the Taoiseach rightly said earlier, it is our duty to hold ourselves to account. The Government should up its game, get with the programme, have some tangible goals and start doing side deals, just like the Germans and everybody else. If the Germans can get it, I want it for the people of Ireland too.

Has the Minister, the Taoiseach or anybody on behalf of the State been in contact with the CEOs of Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson to acquire supplies additional to those being delivered via the EU scheme?

I will take that as a "No". The Minister indicated that there was contact at the appropriate level but then went on to say that the EU is doing a great job and we will be doing well. Earlier, he stated that there will be 50,000 vaccinations a week. If that is the limit we are tied to then, as I said earlier, it will take us two years to inoculate everyone. I respectfully suggest that the Minister or the Taoiseach lift the phone because that is what I would do. If the Minister decides that Ireland is a small country…

On a point of order-----

I propose a very small amendment to the Order of Business to permit the Minister of the day to answer a question. I am sure we will get a seconder.

Would anyone like to second that? The idea that-----

It makes a mockery of this House.

As an outspoken Deputy-----

I thank the Minister of State for the opportunity to raise this issue today. I appreciate it relates to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and possibly the Department of Health. The issue is with supernumerary student nurses in first, second and third year for whom 50% of the course is based on clinical placements. In general, but particularly during the Covid-19 period, these nurses are under extraordinary financial pressure to take up placements, which often mean subs…